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Diabetes numbers rise among young Swedes

Published: 9 Jul 12 08:51 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41908/20120709/

As obesity numbers in Sweden expand, more and more Swedes are suffering from diabetes and at least half of them don’t even know it, according to new statistics.

In Sweden, 350,000 people suffer from diabetes, and the affliction is affecting younger and younger people, with the key range being between 30 and 60.

“It’s remarkable! The younger one is at the onset of this sickness, the greater the risk that they’ll get serious complications like heart infarction, stroke, kidney failure, and eye damage – which in the worst cases can lead to blindness,” said diabetes expert and nurse Britt-Marie Carlsson to Sveriges Television (SVT).

Many people are not diagnosed until after they have already had the illness for two years, which can lead to further health risks such as heart attacks.

“The tricky thing with this illness is that you can go around with Type 2 diabetes without any symptoms. Yet, you have an increased risk of heart and cardiovascular sicknesses,” said Carl Johan Östgren, professor at Linköping University, to SVT.

Östgren explains that when patients come in after a heart attack, it is often just the first symptom of the diabetes, and is even more often too late.

“We really want to discover Type 2 diabetes earlier, because the right treatment can dramatically minimalize the complications of the illness,” he told SVT.

As the numbers of sufferers has increased worldwide, the UN has even labelled the sickness as a global threat.

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09:59 July 9, 2012 by EP
Not surprising ... the amount of sweets people eat here is staggering. Perhaps they should put warning lables on the losgodis and other sweets as they do on alcohol and tobacco ...
10:53 July 9, 2012 by robban70226
losgodis + hamburgers are not a good diet..
13:04 July 9, 2012 by Tennin
Not surprised at all. The people here especially the kids that I've seen, consumed way more sugar than back in the states. I was shocked to see that little kids were allowed to consume almost 2 liters of soda.

So far from what I've seen the parents at least where I live, allows their kids to be very picky with their food. If the kids doesn't want any veggies they're allowed to just stuff their face with korv, pasta, or potatoes. The parents really don't think about the kids nutritional needs, instead they just smile and say "but my child doesn't like veggies, he/she cries and screams."
13:22 July 9, 2012 by sometimesinsweden
Eh? Diabetes rates are lower in Sweden than the US...
14:02 July 9, 2012 by cattie
Really, the main point that healthcare patients in Sweden need to address is this...

"Many people are not diagnosed until after they have already had the illness for two years, which can lead to further health risks such as heart attacks."

Because when they go to thier local general practitioner with symptoms like fatigue, thirst, frequent headaches and urination, they are sent home with the instruction to take some Alvedon. Diagnosis is blood sugar test that costs a few crowns.

Almost every healthcare provider in sweden from Receptionists to Specialist Doctors seem to be in the business of screening away patients. It is like a test. Turn them away three times first to see if treating the patient is really unavoidable.
14:10 July 9, 2012 by EP
Maybe with all the sweets, there's plenty of cavities too ... perhaps Sweden is a good place to become a dentist ;-)
15:27 July 9, 2012 by Viclis
It is so tragic to see that diabetes is growing in strength around the world. Here in US where I live, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and it doesn't seem to be getting better. There's is a huge thriving fitness industry in the States, but diabetes still keeps gaining ground. It's especially depressing since the condition can be controlled by exercise and sensible dieting,,,,both of which is truly a personal choice.
16:45 July 9, 2012 by whoye
what happened to a natural selection, the survival of the fittest? what's the point in saving people that have no skills nor intelligence, rambling through supermarkets and mcdonalds showing every eatable thing down to their throat? we are more than 7 billion, let them die. surely these people are burden
19:18 July 9, 2012 by JLondon
@whoye

Not everyone who is diabetic is fat/overweight. Some people get Type One Insulin Dependant Diabetes as Juveniles which can be genetic. Your comment is inappropriate and shows how seriously stupid you are.
21:46 July 9, 2012 by whoye
@JLondon

so you have that genetic defect, poor little boy. you should be allowed to have a assisted suicide; but that's not the case. thank you for proving my point though
22:55 July 9, 2012 by dizzymoe33
Sad thing is sugar is in everything these days and families don't stay at home and fix a homemade meal as often as they should and of course the consumption of candy and soda's and energy drinks are off the charts. Also now days with all the electronics and video games kids aren't getting at least 60 minutes of exercise everyday that is need.

Also it doesn't matter what your weight is normal weight or obese anyone can get diabetes.
01:25 July 10, 2012 by OzzieBloke
Sugar is not the main culprit at all...

One of the best sites with concise information on Diabetes AND its relationship to Heart Disease is

http://www.healingmatters.com/index.htm

...Yes, its all in the food, bring back strip shopping with locally grown organic food!
12:48 July 10, 2012 by Shibumi
WRT #12

I briefly checked out the website you reference. It makes much ado about how widespread the epidemic along with claims that "although this disease accounts for almost half of the annual death toll in the western nations from all causes, it is, in most cases, curable, permanently, quickly, economically, completely and often easily and by natural means."

According to the website, there is a major conspiracy in place, presumably by Big Gubmint, Big Pharma, Big Agro, Big Younameit, to mask the numbers and continue raking in profits from making the world increasingly ill.

And the guy from the website (who is not a doctor) has figured out how to cure this disease "permanently, quickly, economically, completely and often easily and by natural means." Unfortunately, this info would be impossible "to conveniently present on a web page" so you'll have to buy his book, which (astonishingly!) is not available in bookstores. You can send him 29 US$ plus shipping directly (2006 prices... dunno what it would cost today) to access the cure for what he claims is the single biggest killer in western nations.

Those are plenty of red flags to indicate that this website IS NOT "one of the best sites" on this matter. A little critical thinking is in order here. And please don't make the mistake of thinking that I must either be a. part of the conspiracy too... or b. one of the blind unquestioning masses who is being bamboozled. I am neither. I am simply pointing out huge flaws in what has been presented here as a legitimate source of medical advice.
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