BACKGROUND

Diabetes is increasing all over the world, especially in Asian countries undergoing rapid socioeconomic changes. It has been estimated there will be as many as 380 million people with diabetes in Asia by the year 2025, mainly in India and in China. Diabetes is a major public health problem associated with premature mortality, considerable morbidity and poor quality of life. Compared with developed countries, there is a relative paucity of data on the epidemiology and patterns of diabetes in Asia. To meet this challenge, clinical / basic research personnel and diabetes educators are needed to improve our understanding of this complex disease in order to control this epidemic and improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.

On the positive side, this region has been active in addressing the diabetes problem. A major initiative has been the development of the Western Pacific Declaration on Diabetes followed by the Plan of Action for the Western Pacific Declaration on Diabetes 2006-2010. These programs have been a joint effort of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region, the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Regional Office.