The global rate of diabetes has doubled over the past 30 years

The global prevalence of diabetes has doubled over the past three decades, with the most significant increases occurring in developing nations, according to a study released on Wednesday.

In 2022, approximately 14% of adults worldwide were affected by diabetes, up from 7% in 1990, as reported in the new analysis published in *The Lancet* journal. Considering the growing global population, the researchers estimated that more than 800 million people are now living with diabetes, compared to fewer than 200 million in 1990.

This data encompasses both main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which typically affects younger individuals and is more difficult to treat due to an insulin deficiency, and Type 2 diabetes, which mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who lose sensitivity to insulin.

National statistics show considerable variation. In some wealthier countries, including Japan, Canada, and several Western European nations such as France and Denmark, the diabetes rate has either remained stable or decreased. However, the burden of diabetes is increasingly affecting low- and middle-income countries, the study noted.

For instance, nearly a third of women in Pakistan are now diabetic, compared to less than 10% in 1990.

The researchers highlighted obesity as a significant driver of Type 2 diabetes, along with unhealthy diets. The disparity in diabetes treatment between wealthy and poorer nations is also widening.

An estimated 445 million adults aged over 30 with diabetes—about three out of five people—did not receive treatment in 2022. India alone accounted for nearly a third of this figure. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 5-10% of adults with diabetes received treatment in 2022.

While some developing countries, like Mexico, are making strides in treating diabetes, the global gap in treatment access is growing.

"This is particularly concerning as people with diabetes tend to be younger in low-income countries, and without effective treatment, they are at greater risk of lifelong complications," said Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London, a senior author of the study.

These complications can include amputations, heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss, and, in some cases, premature death.