According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 347 million people have diabetes worldwide. Diabetes was the direct cause of 1.5 million deaths in 2012. More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In 2014, 9% of adults 18 years and older had diabetes.
There is an emerging global epidemic of diabetes that has been traced to rapid increases in people being overweight, including obesity and physical inactivity. By 2030, diabetes is predicted to become the 7th leading cause of death in the world. In fact, total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years. Moreover, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for between 50% and 80% of deaths in people with diabetes. The disease has become one of the major causes of premature illness and death in most countries, mainly through the increased risk of CVD. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, amputation, and kidney failure