Global diabetes cases surpass 800m

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 830 million, more than quadrupling since 1990.

The organisation made this known on Thursday in a statement as the world celebrates World Diabetes Day with theme “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps”.

The organisation said the alarming rise is attributed to the increase in obesity, compounded by the impacts of unhealthy food marketing, lack of physical activity, and economic hardship.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said, “To bring the global diabetes epidemic under control, countries must urgently take action.”

He emphasised the need for policies supporting healthy diets and physical activity, as well as health systems providing prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The study revealed that global diabetes prevalence in adults rose from 7 per cent to 14 per cent between 1990 and 2022.

“Low- and middle-income countries experienced the largest increases, with diabetes rates soaring while treatment access remains persistently low.

“WHO has launched a new global monitoring framework on diabetes to provide comprehensive guidance to countries in measuring and evaluating diabetes prevention, care, outcomes, and impacts.

“The organisation aims to support the prevention of type 2 diabetes from obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity,” he said

In response to the growing diabetes epidemic, WHO has established five global diabetes coverage targets to be achieved by 2030.

“One of these targets is to ensure that 80 per cent of people with diagnosed diabetes achieve good glycemic control.”