The Global Diabetes Emergency: Rising Burden, Silent Gaps, and Preventable Deaths

GLOBAL RISE OF DIABETES: A RAPIDLY ESCALATING CRISIS

• The number of people living with diabetes increased from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022.
• The rise in diabetes prevalence has been more rapid in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income nations.

THE TREATMENT GAP: A SILENT GLOBAL FAILURE

• More than half of people living with diabetes did not take medication for their condition in 2022.
• Diabetes treatment coverage was lowest in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting a major healthcare access gap.

THE DEADLY COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES

• Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.
• These complications make diabetes not only a metabolic disorder but a multi-system damaging disease.

DIABETES AS A MAJOR GLOBAL KILLER

• In 2021, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused over 2 million deaths.
• Approximately 11% of cardiovascular deaths were caused by high blood glucose, showing its strong link with heart disease.

THE POWER OF PREVENTION

• Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use are effective ways to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
• Lifestyle remains the strongest shield against onset of the disease.

DIABETES: A TREATABLE CONDITION

• Diabetes can be treated, and its consequences can be avoided or delayed through:

• Diet

• Physical activity

• Medication

• Regular screening and treatment for complications

2022 SNAPSHOT: DIABETES BURDEN IN ADULTS

• In 2022, 14% of adults aged 18+ were living with diabetes, up from 7% in 1990. • 59% of adults aged 30+ with diabetes were not taking medication in 2022 •Treatment coverage remained lowest in low- and middle-income countries.

A YOUNGER DEATH PATTERN

• In 2021, diabetes directly caused 1.6 million deaths, and 47% of these deaths occurred before age 70.
• An additional 530,000 deaths from kidney disease were due to diabetes.
• High blood glucose was responsible for around 11% of cardiovascular deaths.
  

RISING MORTALITY DESPITE GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRESS

• Since 2000, mortality rates from diabetes have been increasing.
• In contrast, the probability of dying from any of the four major noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, or diabetes) between ages 30 and 70 decreased by 20% globally between 2000 and 2019.