“This rapid rise in such a short period of time is particularly disturbing because it suggests that large changes on a population level can occur in a relatively short period of time,” the authors stated in their report.
People with pre-diabetes do not suffer from diabetes-related symptoms, but their blood sugar levels trend towards the very high side of normal, and they are at high risk of contracting type-2 diabetes.
Dr Arch Mainous, lead researcher on the study, told the BBC: “People are going to transition from these high-risk states to diabetes and there will be a lot of implications for people being sick and healthcare costs.”
Diet and lifestyle play a large role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Besides self-care, fellow study author Professor Baker told the BBC that there is a need for ‘more regulation’ and a demand to raise health standards in the food industry.
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