Study: Over 800M Adults Diabetic in 2022, Four Times Over 1990
diabetesStudy: newsOver 800M Adults Diabetic in 2022, Four Times Over 1990
The Facts
Research by the Imperial College London has found that over 800M adults globally had type 1 or type 2 diabetes in 2022, reportedly more than four times the figure in 1990. The problem has worsened the most in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs), according to the study.Over 800M adults globally had type 1 or type 2 diabetes in 2022, reportedly more than four times the 1990 figure. The problem has worsened the most in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs), the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration-WHO study showed.
Published in the Lancet on World Diabetes Day, the study showed almost 450M of the diabetics aged 30 and above (or 59%) as untreated — 90% of them in LMCs. If untreated, this chronic metabolic disease damages key organs like the heart, blood vessels, and nerves.The 2022 global figure is nearly double the earlier WHO estimate of 422M. In rich nations like Japan and Canada, the rate has either been stable or fallen. India topped the table with over a fourth of 828M. Similarly, only 5-10% sub-Saharan adult diabetics received treatment.
The Spin
Diabetes is an insidious global threat. Rising obesity, urbanization, and the high cost of healthy living fuel an unprecedented surge in type 2 diabetes, especially in poorer countries. Many face diets dominated by affordable, highly-processed foods while struggling to afford better choices, with climate change worsening food insecurity. Access to diagnosis and treatment is also often limited, leaving millions undiagnosed or untreated, bearing heavy personal and economic burdens.
With over 800 million people now living with diabetes worldwide, a bold shift in treatment is overdue. Rather than the current one-size-fits-all prescriptions, a personalized, precision-based approach — tailoring medications to each individual’s unique genetics and underlying causes — is essential. This strategy promises better health outcomes and reduced costs, empowering healthcare systems to address diabetes at its root and truly meet the diverse needs of patients.
