The global diabetes epidemic is reaching critical levels with 800 million cases.
The published results highlight the need for urgent global action to tackle this epidemic, the UN health agency said.
The study was conducted by the Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a global network of 1,500 researchers in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is the first global analysis of trends in both diabetes incidence rates and treatment coverage, based on data from 140 million people worldwide aged 18 and over.
The analysis reveals a doubling of diabetes cases from 7 to 14% between 1990 and 2022, with nearly 450 million adults - 60% of those affected - remaining untreated. This emergency is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of those with diabetes are not actively treated.
“We have seen an alarming increase in diabetes over the past three decades, reflecting the rise in obesity, compounded by the impact of unhealthy food marketing, physical inactivity and economic hardship,” warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Regional challenges
South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean regions face the greatest burden, with an estimated 20% of adults affected.
These regions, along with Africa, have the lowest treatment rates – fewer than four in 10 adults with diabetes are taking their medication.
In response to these challenges, WHO has launched a new global monitoring framework that focuses on key indicators, including glycemic control and access to essential medicines.
This initiative complements the 2021 Global Diabetes Compact, which aims to ensure equitable access to comprehensive care. The framework represents a crucial step in standardizing approaches to diabetes prevention and treatment across health systems around the world, WHO said. | BGNES
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