Simran Joshi
A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet reveals a staggering rise in global diabetes rates, with over 800 million adults now affected worldwide—more than double the number three decades ago.
Conducted by scientists from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), this comprehensive analysis highlights a sharp increase in diabetes prevalence, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The research underscores alarming health disparities, with a significant concentration of cases in just a few nations, and reveals a troubling gap in access to treatment, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources.
The global diabetes rates are increasing. Global health inequities
A major new study published in The Lancet reveals that global adult diabetes rates have skyrocketed close to doubling over the past three decades.
“Diabetes now affects more than 800 million people worldwide, up from about 7 per cent in 1990 to 14 per cent in 2022,” according to the study. It blames this alarming trend on “lifestyle changes, higher obesity rates, and pervasive health inequalities.”
According to a new study led by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration and the World Health Organization, diabetes cases are becoming increasingly concentrated in low and middle-income countries.
And over half of all cases now take place in just six countries, including India, which counts around 212 million cases, or “more than a quarter of global cases.”
Treatment Gaps and Regional Disparities in Diabetes Care
The study further indicates the regional disparities in diabetes care. In most countries of high income, the care for diabetes has evolved, and more than 55 percent of the adults in 2022 received treatment. The pace of progress is slow in low- and middle-income countries. “More than half of adults aged 30 and over with diabetes—445 million people (59 per cent)—were not receiving treatment in 2022.”
In parts of the Pacific islands, the Caribbean, and North Africa, diabetes prevalence is greater than 25% for adults. In comparison, much of France, Denmark, and Sweden have much lower figures, diabetes rates among women.
as low as two to four percent by 2022. The dichotomy sets out the great challenges that are still ahead in prevention and treatment across the globe.
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