Diseases leading to chronic complications like hypertension, kidney issues, and heart attacks
With the highest increase seen in those aged 80 and above
The number of diabetes patients in their 20s and 30s in South Korea has surged drastically.
According to the National Health Insurance Service, as of 2021, people in their 20s and 30s who received treatment for diabetes made up 4.8% of the total patient population, as reported on the 14th.
Over the past five years, the overall number of diabetes patients has increased by 24%, but the number of those in their 20s and 30s has grown by a whopping 33%.
The prevalence rate among those in their 20s has surged by 47%. The only age group that showed a higher increase than the 20s was those over 80, which highlights how high the increase in diabetes among those in their 20s is.
What’s more alarming is that most of them are unaware that they have diabetes.
According to a survey by the Korean Diabetes Association, 6 out of 10 respondents in their 20s and 30s said they did not know their fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a disease that can lead to chronic complications such as hypertension, kidney disease, and myocardial infarction. Especially for the younger generation, the risk of complications and early death is high as insulin resistance and the function of pancreatic beta cells deteriorate rapidly.
Medical professionals diagnose diabetes if any one of the following criteria is met: a glycated hemoglobin level of 6.5% or higher, a plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher after fasting for 8 hours or more, or a plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher 2 hours after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test.
To prevent diabetes, it is necessary to reduce the intake of simple sugars such as carbonated drinks, quit smoking and drinking, and manage weight through regular exercise.
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