800 Million Worldwide Have Diabetes; 1 in 4 in India, Study Finds

A significant new study reveals that the global number of people living with diabetes has more than doubled over the past three decades, reaching over 800 million. Published in The Lancet, this international analysis details a sharp rise in diabetes rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where diabetes prevalence among adults increased from 7% to 14% between 1990 and 2022.

Largest Study on Global Diabetes Trends and Treatment

Conducted by scientists at the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) alongside the World Health Organization, this is the first comprehensive study to assess diabetes rates and treatment in all countries. Drawing data from over 140 million adults across 1,000 studies, researchers utilized statistical tools to provide an accurate comparison of diabetes prevalence and treatment across nations and regions.

Diabetes Concentrated in a Few High-Burden Nations

The study found that more than half of global diabetes cases are concentrated in just a few countries. As of 2022, India has the largest share with over a quarter of global cases (212 million people), followed by China with 148 million, the United States with 42 million, and Pakistan with 36 million. Indonesia and Brazil also showed high numbers, with 25 million and 22 million cases, respectively.

India’s Rising Diabetes Rates

The analysis highlights that, of the 828 million people living with diabetes in 2022, over a quarter are in India. This number reflects an increase more than fourfold compared to 1990, with most of the rise observed in LMICs. As World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14, this study emphasizes the urgent need for preventive measures, particularly in countries with rapidly growing rates.

Limited Access to Diabetes Treatment in LMICs

Despite the surge in diabetes cases, the study points out that treatment rates have remained low in many LMICs. In 2022, nearly 445 million adults over 30 globally, around 60%, did not receive treatment for diabetes. Researchers underscore that this gap in treatment, particularly in resource-limited nations, significantly impacts global health, calling for improved access to diabetes care worldwide.