A comprehensive global analysis published in The Lancet indicates that the number of adults suffering from diabetes has doubled over the last 30 years. In 1990, approximately 7% of the global adult population had the condition, representing about 200 million individuals. By 2022, this figure surged to 14%, amounting to 800 million people worldwide. The study, conducted by NCD-RisC in collaboration with the World Health Organization, utilized data from over 140 million people across more than 1,000 international studies.
Diabetes, an endocrine disease where the body fails to produce or effectively use insulin, is categorized into two main types. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition typically beginning in childhood, while Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder often linked to obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise. The report notes that more than 95% of those affected have Type 2 diabetes. While the condition has declined in some high-income nations like France, Denmark, and Japan, it has steadily risen in developing regions.
The study highlights stark health inequalities, with the burden of untreated diabetes increasingly falling on low- and middle-income countries. Researchers found that more than half of all global cases in 2022 were concentrated in just four nations: India, China, the United States, and Pakistan. In parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caribbean, diabetes prevalence among adults now exceeds 25%. Conversely, rates remain significantly lower in several European countries.
A major concern identified by researchers is the widening treatment gap. In 2022, approximately 445 million adults—three out of five people with the disease—were not receiving necessary treatment. The report reveals that in sub-Saharan Africa, only 5 to 10% of diabetic adults had access to treatment. India alone accounted for about one-third of the global population currently living without medical care for their condition.
Untreated diabetes poses severe long-term risks to human health. Senior study author Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London warned that complications include vision loss, kidney damage, heart disease, and amputation. In many low-income countries, the patient population tends to be younger, making the lack of effective intervention particularly concerning. Without management, these individuals face a heightened risk of premature death.
Health experts emphasize that the rise in diabetes is compounded by the marketing of unhealthy foods, sedentary lifestyles, and economic hardship. Dr. Ranjit Mohan Anjana of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation noted that preventing the disease through healthy diet and exercise is essential. Proposed policy measures include subsidies for healthy foods, free school meals, and the creation of safe environments for physical activity to combat the epidemic.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent action to bring the epidemic under control. He urged countries to strengthen health systems to prioritize early detection and consistent treatment. As the global population ages and obesity rates continue to climb, policymakers are being pressed to adopt comprehensive strategies to manage the disease and reduce the profound threat it poses to public health.
