Login
MENU
The global diabetes epidemic has reached an unprecedented scale, with the number of adults living with the condition surpassing 800 million. This stark revelation, unveiled by new data published in The Lancet on World Diabetes Day, indicates a more than fourfold increase since 1990. Conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the analysis underscores the urgent need for strengthened global action to address the growing prevalence of the disease and the widening treatment gaps, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted the alarming trajectory of diabetes rates in the past three decades, attributing the rise to an increase in obesity, the marketing of unhealthy foods, lack of physical activity, and economic difficulties. "To bring the global diabetes epidemic under control, countries must urgently take action," he emphasized. This includes implementing policies that support healthy diets and physical activity, alongside establishing health systems that promote prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatment.
The study detailed a significant rise in global diabetes prevalence among adults, increasing from 7% in 1990 to 14% in 2022. LMICs have seen the most pronounced increases in diabetes cases, with treatment access remaining stubbornly low. Consequently, global inequalities have widened, with approximately 450 million adults over the age of 30 – about 59% of those with diabetes – remaining untreated in 2022, representing a 3.5-fold rise since 1990. Notably, 90% of these untreated individuals reside in LMICs.
The report also highlights vast regional disparities in diabetes prevalence. In the WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions, around 20% of adults aged 18 and older are affected by diabetes. Furthermore, these regions and the African Region exhibit the lowest treatment coverage, with less than 40% of adults with diabetes managing their condition with glucose-lowering medications.
To tackle the escalating diabetes burden, WHO is launching a new global monitoring framework for diabetes. This initiative aims to guide countries in evaluating diabetes prevention, care, outcomes, and impacts by tracking critical indicators such as glycemic control, hypertension, and access to essential medications. WHO's Global Diabetes Compact, initiated in 2021, strives to reduce diabetes risk and ensure equitable access to quality treatment and care for diagnosed individuals. This effort includes preventing type 2 diabetes through measures addressing obesity, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.
In 2022, WHO established five global diabetes coverage targets to be reached by 2030, including a goal for 80% of diagnosed individuals to achieve good glycemic control. The findings released today underscore the urgent need for action to meet these targets and close the treatment gap.
Looking forward, 2025 will present a pivotal opportunity to intensify efforts against the rising diabetes epidemic as the Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) convenes. This forum will unite global leaders to commit to addressing the root causes of NCDs like diabetes while enhancing access to detection and treatment. By aligning initiatives with the 2030 and 2050 objectives, this high-level meeting could crucially reinforce global health systems, including primary health care, and aid in halting the escalation of diabetes globally.
This comprehensive study, conducted by NCD-RisC and WHO, represents the first global analysis of diabetes trends, utilizing data from over 140 million adults included in more than 1,000 studies worldwide. With an updated methodology, it provides an accurate depiction of the growing diabetes epidemic, underscoring the necessity for immediate and concerted global action.
