Complementary Therapies and the Management of Diabetes and Vascular Disease
A Matter of Balance
Chapter One
Introduction to Diabetes
Gary Deed and Trish Dunning
1.1 Incidence and Prevalence of Diabetes
The dramatic increase in the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes and
obesity is an alarming health concern. Despite increased awareness of the value
of eating a healthy diet and undertaking regular physical activity, the incidence of
type 2 diabetes has not been reduced. In fact, diabetes is a serious and growing
global health problem. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (2006)
described diabetes as an 'epidemic of our time that threatens to spiral out of control
unless early, focused preventative actions are taken'. The challenge for health
professionals and governments encompasses economic, social, and health planning
in developed nations as well as in newly developed or developing countries,
irrespective of culture or location.
Worldwide, the number of people with diabetes has tripled since 1985 (Medical and
Health Annual Ency ... read full excerpt from Complementary Therapies and the Management of Diabetes and Vascular Disease: A Matter of Balance ebook
