The situation regarding chronic diseases like diabetes is very different. The epidemic happens silently over years or decades; the danger is either not recognized or not considered avoidable; and action is often seen as the responsibility of the individual (lifestyle modification) or health-care system (pharmaceutical prescription), rather than the state.
而类似糖尿病这类慢性疾病方面的情况则非常不同。这类疾病会在数年乃至数十年间无声蔓延；其造成的危险要么尚未得到认知，要么就被认为是无法避免的；而一般认为应该对此负责的不是国家，而是个人（生活方式改进）或者是医疗系统（医疗处方）。