A groundbreaking study reveals a sharp increase in diabetes prevalence, with low- and middle-income countries particularly affected.
The prevalence of diabetes among adults globally has surged, having doubled in the last thirty years, affecting over 800 million individuals worldwide, as indicated by a recent pivotal study published in The Lancet.
This landmark research represents the first comprehensive global assessment of diabetes rates and treatment across all nations, revealing a notable increase in diabetes prevalence, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Conducted by researchers from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the study examined data from more than 140 million adults aged 18 and older, gathered from over 1,000 studies worldwide.
The results indicate that the rate of diabetes among adults escalated from approximately 7% in 1990 to 14% by 2022, a rise that experts largely attribute to shifts in lifestyle, the growing obesity epidemic, and pervasive health disparities.
A particularly striking finding is the concentration of diabetes cases within a limited number of countries. India currently holds the highest number of diabetes cases globally, representing over a quarter of the total, with around 212 million individuals affected.
China ranks second with 148 million cases, followed by the United States and Pakistan with 42 million and 36 million cases, respectively. Indonesia and Brazil contribute an additional 47 million cases combined.
These six countries account for more than half of the global diabetes population, highlighting significant regional inequalities in diabetes prevalence and access to effective treatment options.
The study further distinguishes between type-1 and type-2 diabetes.
Type-1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, is less prevalent. Conversely, over 95% of individuals with diabetes have type-2 diabetes, a preventable metabolic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to utilize insulin effectively.
While genetic predisposition plays a role in the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, lifestyle factors such as obesity, unhealthy diet, and insufficient physical activity are also significant contributors.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious health complications, including hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which over time damages blood vessels and nerves, affecting vital organs.
The rising diabetes rates point to significant public health challenges, particularly for low- and middle-income countries where healthcare infrastructure is often less equipped to manage chronic diseases.
