Last night my husband said: “There are more diabetics in this country than there are people in The Netherlands.” Now this may not mean that much to you, but we lived in that country for nearly three years. My second child was born there. And I’m picturing all of the 16.5 million bike-riding, cheese-eating masses pressing buttons on their insulin pumps and priming their pen needles, toting monitors and counting carbs.
No, really. Imagine, an ENTIRE COUNTRY of us. Mind-blowing.
Even more mind-blowing is the Economic Force this represents. If roughly equivalent to The Netherlands, “Diabetica” would be:
- the 61st most populous country in the world
- with a labor force of 7.53 Million
- and GDP of $482 Billion
- with nearly 2 Million people over the age of 65
- nearly 9 Million Internet users
- reading over 300 newspapers
– AND: the 20th most affluent country in the world, with a per capita income of $29,500
And we wonder why we diabetics are considered such a “hot market“? Are we ever!
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) talks about us in market terms: with sales of $7B, the US is the dominant diabetes market, followed by Japan and Germany.
We diabetics are one hell of a buying block, ’cause we’re not seasonal (still need our supplies in the “off-season”), and our spending rarely dips due to political events or global market fluctuations. Hell, we live on this stuff. We’re buying everything we can afford, either through our health plans or out of our own pockets!
Just something to chew on.
Interesting observation Amy….
May I be President of Diabetica?
Kirk
Kirk, I don’t know you but I would happily serve as a magistrate in the Courts of Diabetica.
“We find you to be Low on all counts. Please drink some juice.”
I’d like to be the Minister of Defense.
Either that or Propaganda.
I do not have diabetes but I work as a nurse with people with DM. May I campaign for a post in The Department of Health and Human Services, especially the Latino Health branch?
I work with a 501 (c) 3, non-profit, called Global Peace. We were wondering if we might be able to use the image that you have on your website. The globe with the flags of the nations around it. If you could let us know that would be lovely.
Global Peace