Latest figures released by the International Diabetes Federation this week show that 285 million people worldwide have diabetes, representing 6.4% of the world's adult population.

In the fourth edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas the organisation predicts that if the current rate of growth continues unchecked, the total number of people with diabetes will exceed 435 million in 2030 and cost the world economy more than US$490 billion.

The regions with the highest comparative prevalence rates are North America, where 10.2 % of the adult population have diabetes, followed by the Middle East and North Africa Region with 9.3%. The regions with the highest number of people living with diabetes are Western Pacific, where 77 million people have diabetes and South East Asia has 59 million.

In Australia 7.2% of the adult population has diabetes, 9.8% have impaired glucose tolerance, and every year there are 22.4 new cases of type 1 diabetes in children (under 14 years) per 100,000 per population per year.

Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes Federation said the data showed that the epidemic is out of control. “We are losing ground in the struggle to contain diabetes. No country is immune and no country is fully equipped to repel this common enemy,?he said.

“The world needs to invest in integrated health systems that can diagnose, treat, manage and prevent diabetes,?said Professor Nigel Unwin, lead author of the Atlas.

“Governments need to invest in actions outside the formal health sector, particularly in promoting healthier diets and physical activity, to reduce obesity and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Without effective prevention diabetes will overwhelm health systems and hinder economic growth,?he said.