Global Diabetes Care Faces Critical Gaps, New Study Finds
A new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology reveals notable challenges in diabetes care worldwide, with a large proportion of those affected remaining undiagnosed or not receiving optimal treatment. Researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine, along with a global network of collaborators, analyzed data from 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2023 to map the “diabetes care cascade.”
The analysis found that in 2023, approximately 44% of individuals aged 15 and older with diabetes were unaware of thier condition, with underdiagnosis particularly pronounced among young adults who face elevated risks of long-term complications.
while 91% of those diagnosed received some form of medication, optimal blood sugar management was only achieved in 42% of those receiving treatment. this results in a concerning statistic: only 21% of all people with diabetes globally have their condition effectively managed.
The study highlights substantial regional disparities, especially between high- and low/middle-income countries. High-income North America demonstrated the highest rates of diagnosis, while high-income asia Pacific led in treatment rates among those diagnosed. Southern Latin America showed the best results in optimal blood sugar control for treated individuals. Conversely, Central sub-Saharan Africa experienced the largest gaps in diagnosis, with fewer than 20% of people with diabetes knowing they have the condition.
“By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if nearly half don’t know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic,” warned Lauryn Stafford, the study’s first author and an IHME researcher.
The research emphasizes the urgent need for increased investment in diabetes screening programs, particularly for younger populations, and improved access to medications and glucose-monitoring tools, especially in underserved regions. This need is underscored by the World Health Association’s (WHO) 2022 target of achieving an 80% clinical diagnosis rate for diabetes by 2030.
The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.