June 11 (Bloomberg) -- The death rate for diabetes may rise by 25 percent in the next decade, and by 2025 about 80 percent of the countries with the most cases of the disease may be in the developing world, a report says.

About 6 percent of the world's population, or more than 230 million people, now have diabetes, the International Diabetes Foundation said yesterday in a statement. If governments don't do more to raise awareness of the disease, the number may rise to 350 million in 20 years, the organization said.

``Diabetes is emerging fast as one of the biggest health catastrophes the world has ever seen,'' said Martin Silink, president-elect of the Brussels-based IDF, in the statement. ``The diabetes epidemic will overwhelm health care resources everywhere if governments do not wake up and take action now.''

Diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce or can't properly use insulin, a hormone needed to covert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The disease leads to kidney failure, amputations and blindness, according to the non-profit American Diabetes Association. In the U.S., almost 21 million Americans, or 7 percent of the population, had diabetes in 2005, the Alexandria, Virginia-based ADA said.

Now, 7 of the 10 countries with the most diabetics are in the developing world, the IDF said. The growth rates there may place economic, social and health burdens on many of the countries that can least afford it, the group said.

The federation, which works with the World Health Organization, has started a public education campaign on diabetes, including urging government support of a United Nations resolution to raise awareness of the disease.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Burke in New York at hburke2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 11, 2006 11:50 EDT