The global diabetes epidemic is rapidly evolving, with over 830 million people now facing the disease—a number that has quadrupled since 1990.
At a Glance
- The adult diabetes rate has doubled since 1990.
- Over 828 million diabetes cases were recorded by 2022.
- Obesity and poor diets are primary contributors.
- Type 2 diabetes predominates, especially in poorer countries.
Global Surge in Diabetes Cases
Since 1990, the rate of adults living with diabetes has skyrocketed from 7% to 14%. The total number of cases has increased fourfold, surpassing 828 million by 2022. This surge marks a severe global health crisis driven by rising obesity rates and unhealthy dietary habits.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for a staggering 95% of all cases, particularly escalating in poorer nations. These regions face significant challenges, including limited treatment access, with many individuals unaware of their condition.
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Challenges in Treatment Accessibility
Many resource-poor nations struggle with diabetes treatment, with nearly half of those affected left untreated. While countries like Belgium boast the highest treatment rates, sub-Saharan Africa sees only 5-10% of adults receiving care, illustrating stark global disparities.
“All of this highlights widening global inequalities in diabetes, with treatment rates stagnating in many low- and middle-income countries where numbers of adults with diabetes are drastically increasing,” – Majid Ezzait, a professor of global environmental health at ICL.
Over 133 million individuals in India and 73 million in China remain untreated. As revealed by recent data, untreated diabetes threatens to cause severe complications and increased mortality risks in these populations.
Strategies for Prevention and Management
The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a Global Diabetes Compact, aiming to optimize prevention and equitable care. Prioritizing nutrition and exercise, these strategies focus on enhancing public awareness and policy implementation to curb the epidemic’s impact.
“We have seen an alarming rise in diabetes over the past three decades, which reflects the increase in obesity, compounded by the impacts of the marketing of unhealthy food, a lack of physical activity, and economic hardship. To bring the global diabetes epidemic under control, countries must urgently take action. This starts with enacting policies that support healthy diets and physical activity, and, most importantly, health systems that provide prevention, early detection and treatment,” – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.
The WHO has set ambitious targets for 2030 to boost glycemic control and improve diabetes care access worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for effective global action.
