Diabetes cases quadrupled worldwide in 32 years to reach 828 million people in 2022, an increase of 630 million from 1990, the medical publication revealed this Thursday The Lancetciting the new data from a study supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The figures indicate that the age-standardized incidence of diabetes increased in 131 countries for women and in 155 countries for menand that the largest increases were seen in the low- and middle-income countries of Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean, where the magazine mentions in particular Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Daycelebrated every November 14, the WHO highlighted the magnitude of the epidemic and the urgent need for stronger global action to stop the spread of the disease and widening gaps in treatment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Reflection of obesity
The director general of the UN agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called the increase in diabetes in the last three decades “alarming,” explaining that it is a reflection of the increase in obesity, “aggravated by the effects of unhealthy food marketing, lack of physical activity and economic hardship.”
“To control the global diabetes epidemic, countries must urgently take action. This starts with implementing policies that support healthy diet and physical activity and, most importantly, health systems that provide prevention, early detection and treatment”Tedros declared.
According to the study, the global prevalence of diabetes in adults increased from 7% to 14% between 1990 and 2022, with the most marked increase in low and middle income countrieswhere diabetes rates have skyrocketed and access to treatment remains very low, causing stark global inequalities.
A healthy diet helps combat the spread of type 2 diabetes.
Most diabetics do not receive treatment
In 2022, almost 450 million adults aged 30 and older (about 59% of all adults with diabetes) were not receiving treatmenta 3.5-fold increase in the number of people without medical care since 1990. 90% of these adults live in low- and middle-income countries.
The data also show substantial global differences in diabetes rates, with the prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 18 years and older around 20% in the Southeast Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions. These two regions, together with Africa, have the lowest diabetes treatment coverage rates, at less than 40% of adults with diabetes taking glucose-lowering medications.
Latin America, among the regions with improvements in treatment coverage
The research found that the greatest improvement in treatment coverage was recorded in some countries in central and western Europe and Latin America, with Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Costa Rica to the head.
In 2022, treatment coverage was at least 55% in South Korea, many high-income Western countries, and some Central and Eastern European countries, Latin America, specifically in Costa Rica, Chile and Mexicoand the Middle East.
In contrast, there was no increase in treatment coverage in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Pacific island nations, and South, Southeast, and Central Asia.
New monitoring framework
Given the growing burden of diabetes on public health and people’s lives, WHO today launched a new global diabetes monitoring framework that aims to provide guidance to countries to measure and evaluate diabetes prevention, care, outcomes and impacts.
The WHO argued that track key indicators such as glycemic control, hypertension and access to essential medicines, countries can improve targeted interventions and policy initiatives.
According to the agency, the new standardized approach will allow countries prioritize resources effectivelydriving significant improvements in diabetes prevention and care.
In 2021, the WHO launched the Global Diabetes Pact, which seeks reduce the risk of contracting the disease and ensure that everyone diagnosed has access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, quality treatment and care. The Compact also supports the prevention of type 2 diabetes caused by obesity, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity
A year later, the Organization established five global diabetes coverage goals to be achieved by 2030. One of those goals is ensure that 80% of diagnosed diabetics achieve good glycemic control.
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