BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/14/12 -- One adult in ten has diabetes in the Middle East and this is set to rise according to new figures released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) today to mark World Diabetes Day. IDF estimates that half of these people are yet to be diagnosed.

By the end of the year, diabetes will have killed 357,000 people in the region, compared to 280,000 in 2011. The new regional figures also show that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the region for younger age groups is substantially higher than the global average.

By the end of 2012, 34 million people in the region will be living with diabetes. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have the highest prevalence of diabetes in the region. Egypt has the highest number of cases at 7.5 million.

"We are in the middle of a public health emergency," said Dr Amir-Kamran Nikousokhan Tayar, Chair of IDF's Middle East and North Africa region. "We must focus our health resources on prevention where possible and education around this disease to prevent even more deaths in the region."

The figures from the Middle East, which form part of IDF's Diabetes Atlas 2012 Update, echo the shocking increase in diabetes on a global level. The number of people globally living with diabetes in 2012 has risen to 371 million, compared to 366 million in 2011.

"In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease," said Jean Claude Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). "On World Diabetes Day, we want to raise awareness that with the right education and care this disease can be controlled and in some cases prevented."

"Millions of people are dying from diabetes in their most productive years," added Ann Keeling, CEO of IDF. "The stability of societies is threatened and huge economic and political burdens are imposed on countries and communities. However this disease remains marginalised on the global health and development agenda and vastly under-resourced."

It is hoped that campaigns such as today's World Diabetes Day will continue to raise the voice of people with diabetes and to encourage all stakeholders to move from advocacy to action on a regional and global scale.

For more information on the 5(th) edition Diabetes Atlas, 2012 updates and country/regional factsheets: http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/.

About World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes poses. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. This year sees the fourth of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes.

www.worlddiabetesday.org

About the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organisation of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950. IDF's mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. www.idf.org

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