Diabetes is a common disease – it's also a time bomb. About 350 million people worldwide will suffer from this metabolic disorder by the year 2025, according to a forecast published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The IDF are trying to counteract this trend with a global awareness campaign called "Unite for Diabetes" – which is supported by Bayer HealthCare. One important step is to overcome persistent fallacies, because they can have serious consequences where diabetes is concerned.

Misconception 1: You can't die of diabetes
Unfortunately this is wrong. In fact, somewhere in the world somebody dies of the consequences of this metabolic disorder every ten seconds.

Misconception 2: Diabetes is a disease of the affluent
Only at first glance. In fact, in many countries in Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean up to 20 percent of the population suffer from diabetes.

Misconception 3: There is enough money available for the global fight against diabetes
Far from it. Over the last few years, most of the global development-aid budget for health-related projects has gone into containing the immunodeficiency AIDS. Only a small fraction was used to combat well-known, non-transferable diseases. Diabetes mellitus is one of these.

Misconception 4: Treating diabetes doesn't cost much.
The opposite is the case. $375 billion is expected be needed worldwide to combat diabetes and its complications in 2007 alone. The IDF estimates that the costs will rise to $411 billion within a single generation. Treatment costs of that order can ruin an entire health system.

Misconception 5: Only old people get diabetes
Not at all. All age groups are at risk. Young people also suffer from so-called adult-onset diabetes in the meantime, especially in the industrial countries.

Misconception 6: It is mostly men who suffer from diabetes
Wrong. Anyone can get diabetes. In fact, the number of women contracting diabetes mellitus is on the increase.

Misconception 7: Diabetes is the price to be paid for an unhealthy lifestyle
This is not really true. Especially in developing countries, poor people and children have little choice when it comes to nutrition. They can hardly be blamed for that.

Misconception 8: Diabetes can't be prevented
On the contrary. If you get plenty of exercise and have a healthy diet, you can prevent diabetes. 80 percent of the most widespread type of diabetes, type 2, can be avoided in this way.

Misconception 9: Diabetes prevention is too expensive
Not at all. It pays off in many cases. Programs to improve living conditions can help avoid the threatening pandemic.

Misconception 10: We all have to die – so why not die of diabetes?
"Do you want a slow, painful, and above all early death?" That is the counter-question asked by the IDF campaign "Unite for Diabetes".

It is up to every individual to prevent diabetes, at least in industrial countries. And people who are already living with the disease can prevent – or at least delay – the onset of further complications. For example, blood glucose meters such as Bayer's Contour can help. They can be used by people with diabetes to check their blood-glucose level themselves. "Your genes might load the pistol, but it is you, the human being, who presses the trigger," stresses Frank Vinicor, Director of the Division of Diabetes Translation at the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Advice for patients
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