Text tabled : B7-0145/2012, B7-0146/2012, B7-0147/2012, B7-0148/2012

  Petru Constantin Luhan (PPE), in writing. – (RO) According to statistics, almost 285 million people are diagnosed with this disease worldwide, of which approximately 55.2 million are in Europe. Worldwide estimates for 2030 indicate 438 million patients. However, treatment involves high levels of expenditure – in the US alone, this figure was USD 210 billion in one year, an amount anticipated to exceed USD 300 billion by 2025, given that the solution for diabetes is not medical but social.

Diet and lifestyle play an essential role in preventing chronic degenerative diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. The prevention of this misleading disease should begin from an early age. We have clear studies proving that it is enough to lose 3-4 kg in weight by fast walking for 30 minutes a day to reduce the incidence of diabetes by nearly two thirds. Considering all this, Member States should promote Type 2 diabetes prevention through education about healthy eating and exercise habits in schools. There is also a need to align food-related policies in order to promote a healthy diet and to allow consumers to opt for healthy products.