Over the past decade it has been obvious that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes
is increasing rapidly. Unless appropriate action is taken, it is predicted that
there will be at least 350 million people in the world with type 2 diabetes by
the year 2030. This is double the current number. Equally alarming and less
well known is the fact that, of these people, only around one half are known to
have the condition. This has been shown repeatedly in epidemiological
surveys. An added concern is that half of those who do present with type 2
diabetes clinically already have signs of the complications of the disorder.