Havana, Cuba.- More than one million people live with diabetes in Cuba, but only 700,000 are registered, warn experts from the island, according to an article published today in Granma newspaper.

Progress in the diagnosis of this condition is essential, if we take into account that 415 million adults in the world suffer from this disease, considered a threat to health on the planet, experts said.

According to the text, diabetes is the eighth cause of mortality in this country, with an index of 20 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants. However, more than 55 percent of the deceased, under 75, died prematurely, not reaching the average life expectancy.

Considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a chronic disease that arises when the body does not produce insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in the blood) or does not use it properly, this condition is accompanied by serious sequelae.

Among them: blindness, chronic renal failure, amputations and sexual dysfunctions.

Studies carried out in the largest island of the Antilles indicate that the most important risk factor for their presence is sedentary lifestyle and obesity.

For many specialists, the biggest challenge is that people know in time if they have this disease or are at risk of suffering it, and more importantly, what to do when living with diabetes.