The number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 800 million, more than quadrupling since 1990, according to a new study released in The Lancet on World Diabetes Day. The analysis, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), paints a stark picture of the growing diabetes epidemic and underscores the pressing need for global action to address rising disease rates and widening treatment gaps, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

"We have seen an alarming rise in diabetes over the past three decades," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "This is closely linked to the increase in obesity, exacerbated by the marketing of unhealthy food, lack of physical activity, and economic hardship. To control the global diabetes epidemic, countries must urgently take action, including enacting policies that promote healthy diets, physical activity, and health systems that focus on prevention, early detection, and treatment."

A Rising Crisis: Global Prevalence and Untreated Cases

The study reveals that global diabetes prevalence in adults has doubled since 1990, rising from 7% to 14% by 2022. LMICs have experienced the largest increases, where diabetes rates have surged while access to treatment remains alarmingly low. In 2022, nearly 450 million adults aged 30 and older—about 59% of all adults with diabetes—remained untreated. This represents a 3.5-fold increase in untreated individuals since 1990, with 90% of these cases occurring in LMICs.

The report also highlights the stark global disparities in diabetes rates. In regions like South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Africa, approximately 20% of adults aged 18 and older are living with diabetes, but these regions also have the lowest rates of treatment coverage. Less than 40% of adults with diabetes in these regions are receiving the necessary glucose-lowering medication.

WHO’s Global Diabetes Response

In response to the escalating crisis, the WHO is launching a new global monitoring framework to help countries measure and evaluate their efforts in diabetes prevention, care, and treatment outcomes. This framework, which tracks key indicators such as glycemic control, hypertension, and access to essential medicines, aims to empower countries to better prioritize resources, improving targeted interventions and policy actions.

WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact, launched in 2021, envisions reducing the risk of diabetes and ensuring that all individuals diagnosed with the condition have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality care. This initiative also focuses on preventing type 2 diabetes, which is largely driven by obesity, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.

Setting Targets and Moving Toward 2030

The WHO has established five global diabetes coverage targets to be achieved by 2030, including ensuring that 80% of diagnosed individuals achieve good glycemic control. These targets reflect the urgent need for expanded access to diabetes care, as highlighted by the latest findings. The WHO aims to close the gap by improving treatment access and addressing the social determinants that fuel the diabetes epidemic.

A Crucial Moment for Action

Looking ahead, 2025 presents a significant opportunity for global action with the Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), which will focus on the prevention and control of conditions like diabetes. This meeting will bring together heads of state and governments to forge a collective commitment to addressing the root causes of diabetes, improving access to detection and treatment, and reinforcing health systems. It is a pivotal moment for strengthening global health frameworks, including primary healthcare systems, to halt the rise of the diabetes epidemic and work toward the ambitious goals set for 2030 and 2050.

As the global diabetes crisis deepens, experts urge immediate and coordinated efforts to curb the disease's spread and ensure that all individuals, regardless of where they live, have access to the care and treatment they need. The coming years will be critical in shaping the future of diabetes care worldwide.