潘基文秘书长2016年世界糖尿病日致辞

Message on World Diabetes Day

世界糖尿病日致辞

14 November 2016

2016年11月14日

Diabetes is a leading cause of poor eyesight and blindness worldwide. Because the changes are painless and gradual, people often only realize they have a problem when their eyesight finally begins to fail. At that point, it can be too late to improve or restore vision.

在世界各地，糖尿病是弱视和失明的主要原因。由于这些病变不产生痛感且逐渐形成，人们通常只是在视力最后开始丧失时才意识到有问题。到那时可能为时已晚，无法改善或恢复视力了。

It is therefore vital that all people with diabetes have their eyes examined regularly by trained personnel who know what to look for and who can provide advice and treatment. If people can control blood glucose levels and blood pressure, they can reduce the risk of changes in blood vessels. And even when changes do occur, it is possible to slow down the process with timely treatment.

因此，至关重要的是，所有糖尿病患者都必须定期检查眼睛，由那些懂行的专业人员进行检查并提供咨询和治疗。人们如能控制血糖水平和血压，就可减少血管病变的风险。即使发生了病变，也可以通过及时治疗来减缓病变过程。

Each year, diabetes becomes more common, mainly due to ageing populations and the rise of obesity. Its prevalence has nearly doubled in the past 35 years, with the increase greatest in low- and middle-income countries.

糖尿病患者人数年年增加，这主要是由于人口老龄化和日趋严峻的肥胖症问题。过去35年来，糖尿病流行率几乎翻了一番，低收入和中等收入国家的增幅最大。

Some 422 million people now live with diabetes. The disease shortens lives and, if not managed, can cause severe complications such as amputations, strokes or kidney failure. It has devastating impacts on household budgets and national economies.

现在有大约4.22亿人患有糖尿病。该疾病会缩短寿命，如果不加以控制，也可能导致严重的并发症，如截肢、中风或肾衰竭。糖尿病还给家庭预算和国民经济带来破坏性影响。

On this International Day, let us keep our “Eyes on Diabetes”. Let us focus both on prevention and strengthening health services so that everyone who has this debilitating disease can receive the support he or she needs.

值此国际日之际，让我们继续“着眼糖尿病”。让我们着重开展预防并加强医疗服务，使这一衰竭性疾病的每位男女患者都能得到他们所需要的支持。