The number of adults suffering from Type 2 diabetes has more than doubled across the globe in the past 30 years, according to a study published in The Lancet.
The research found that rates of Type 2 diabetes -- which is linked to lifestyle factors like obesity -- increased or remained the same in every part of the world, with 347 million people currently afflicted, compared to 153 million in 1980. One in 10 adults now suffers from the disease, according the study published late Saturday.
Much of the increase was due to longer life expectancy, but rising global obesity rates also contributed to the result, researchers said.
The U.S. had the highest prevalence amongst developed countries, while western Europe's rate remained relatively low. Globally, the Pacific Islands saw the most dramatic rise, with one third of all women in the Marshall Islands now suffering from Type 2 diabetes.
Academics from Imperial College London and Harvard University analyzed data from more than 270 million people worldwide, then used statistical techniques to make a global estimate.
The study's authors urged governments and health bodies to improve diabetes screening programs and to address the underlying causes of the condition.
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