Globalization and diabetes

Globalization has improved the problems with poverty in many of the developing countries. As stated by this article in the NY Times, we are to a point "where more people are overweight than undernourished". Once globalization has set foot in a less developed country, we impose on them a new way of life.

Bringing industry into the country is healthy because it helps to provide a source of capital and the country may then be involved in world trade. However, when we start to "help" these poorer people by providing them with the "healthy" foods that we are so used to, you can't help but to expect an increase in diseases such as diabetes.

The worst part is that the underdeveloped countries to which globalization is spreading have poor health insurance and health care. So when someone is affected by the disease they have a difficult time treating it.

Another interesting thing I found in this article was a quote from a doctor in India.

“Diabetes unfortunately is the price you pay for progress,” said Dr. A. Ramachandran, the managing director of the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, in Chennai (formerly Madras).

It is unfortunate that for a country like India to be involved in the globalization process then they have to take with it both good and bad.