Global diabetes cases have quadrupled in the past 30 years

According to the latest data released by The Lancet on World Diabetes Day , the number of adults with diabetes worldwide has exceeded 800 million, more than four times since 1990.

The incidence rate has soared

The study reports that between 1990 and 2022, the global prevalence of diabetes among adults increased from 7% to 14%. The largest increases were seen in low- and middle-income countries, where diabetes rates have soared but treatment access has remained low. This trend has led to significant global inequalities: by 2022, nearly 450 million adults aged 30 years and older (about 59% of all adults with diabetes) will remain untreated, marking a 3.5-fold increase in the number of untreated people since 1990. Of these untreated adults, 90% live in low- and middle-income countries.

Regional differences

The study further revealed the huge disparity in diabetes incidence around the world, with diabetes incidence of about 20% among adults aged 18 years and over in the WHO Southeast Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Diabetes treatment coverage was lowest in these two regions and in Africa, with less than 4 in 10 adults with diabetes taking glucose-lowering drugs to treat diabetes.

Authoritative data

The study, released Thursday, was conducted by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration, a global network of more than 1,500 researchers and practitioners. It is the first global analysis of trends in diabetes incidence and treatment coverage, based on data from more than 1,000 studies covering more than 140 million people aged 18 years or older worldwide. The study uses a newer method to measure diabetes prevalence from previous studies, giving a more accurate overview of the global diabetes epidemic.

Countermeasures and commitments

To address soaring rates of diabetes, WHO has launched a new global diabetes surveillance framework. The framework is a critical step in the global response, providing comprehensive guidance for countries to measure and evaluate diabetes prevention, care, outcomes and impact.

In 2021, WHO launched the Global Diabetes Compact, whose vision includes reducing the risk of diabetes and ensuring that all people with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, quality treatment and care. In the same year, the World Health Assembly also adopted a resolution on diabetes, urging Member States to further prioritize the prevention, diagnosis and control of diabetes and the prevention and management of risk factors such as obesity.