A study suggests that over 800 million adults worldwide have diabetes, with many cases going untreated.

                 

A new study reveals that over 800 million adults globally have diabetes—nearly double previous estimates—with more than half of those over 30 not receiving treatment. The research, published in The Lancet, found that in 2022, around 828 million adults aged 18 and older had type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Among those over 30, a staggering 445 million (59%) were untreated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) previously estimated that approximately 422 million people have diabetes, a chronic condition impacting blood sugar levels and potentially leading to heart, nerve, and organ damage if left unmanaged.

Diabetes rates have doubled globally since 1990, rising from 7% to 14%, largely due to increasing cases in low- and middle-income nations. However, while treatment rates have improved in some high-income countries, they have remained nearly stagnant in many lower-income regions, widening the treatment gap. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, only 5-10% of those estimated to have diabetes receive treatment, according to Jean Claude Mbanya, a professor at the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon. The cost of treatment, including insulin and medications, remains a significant barrier.

Conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the WHO, this study is the first comprehensive global analysis of diabetes prevalence and treatment. Drawing from over 1,000 studies and data from more than 140 million individuals, it used fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels as diagnostic criteria to provide accurate estimates, especially in regions like South Asia where single-method testing often misses cases.

While the study did not differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, existing evidence indicates that the majority of adult cases are type 2, commonly associated with obesity and poor diet.

The study underscores a global diabetes crisis, revealing that the number of adults with the disease is significantly higher than previously believed, with over half of those affected not receiving treatment. The findings highlight the urgent need for accessible diabetes care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where treatment gaps are widest. As diabetes prevalence continues to climb, especially in underserved regions, addressing barriers to affordable treatment and improving diagnostic strategies are essential to reducing the risks of severe complications and improving health outcomes worldwide.