Global Diabetes Prevalence Surpasses 800M, Urging Urgent Action to Address Growing Epidemic

WHO calls for stronger global policies to address diabetes surge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

New data released on World Diabetes Day reveals that the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 800 million, a dramatic increase of more than four times since 1990. The analysis, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the alarming rise in global diabetes prevalence and the urgent need for stronger interventions, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The study shows that global diabetes prevalence among adults increased from 7% in 1990 to 14% in 2022. The surge is largely attributed to rising obesity rates, unhealthy food marketing, insufficient physical activity, and economic hardships that disproportionately affect LMICs. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of addressing this public health crisis, stating, “To bring the global diabetes epidemic under control, countries must urgently take action, starting with policies that support healthy diets and physical activity, and health systems that provide prevention, early detection, and treatment.”

The report underscores the vast treatment gaps globally, particularly in LMICs, where diabetes rates have skyrocketed while access to treatment remains critically low. In 2022, nearly 450 million adults aged 30 and older, or about 59% of all adults with diabetes, were untreated—marking a 3.5-fold increase in untreated cases since 1990. The vast majority of these untreated individuals, 90%, reside in LMICs, amplifying disparities in global health.

Geographically, the study identifies significant regional differences in diabetes prevalence. For instance, diabetes rates among adults aged 18 and older are around 20% in the WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, which also have the lowest treatment coverage. In these areas, fewer than 4 in 10 adults with diabetes receive glucose-lowering medications.

In response to the mounting diabetes burden, the WHO is launching a new global monitoring framework on diabetes. This framework provides countries with comprehensive guidance to measure and evaluate diabetes prevention, care, outcomes, and impacts. The system tracks key health indicators, such as glycemic control and access to essential medicines, helping countries improve targeted interventions and policies. By adopting this framework, countries can prioritize resources and accelerate efforts to improve diabetes care and prevention.

Since the launch of WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact in 2021, efforts have focused on reducing diabetes risk factors, ensuring equitable access to affordable treatment, and preventing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle interventions targeting obesity, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. A resolution passed at the World Health Assembly in 2021 further reinforced the importance of prioritizing the prevention, diagnosis, and management of diabetes and its risk factors.

WHO has set ambitious global diabetes coverage targets for 2030, including the goal to ensure that 80% of diagnosed individuals achieve good glycemic control. Today’s report underscores the scale of the challenge and the urgency of addressing these targets to close the treatment gap and curb the rising global burden of diabetes.

The Fourth High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), scheduled for September 2025, will provide a crucial opportunity to galvanize global action on diabetes. The meeting will bring heads of state and governments together to set a collective vision for the prevention and control of NCDs, including diabetes, with a focus on addressing the root causes of the epidemic and improving access to diagnosis and treatment.

The upcoming meeting is seen as a pivotal moment to strengthen global health systems and reinforce primary healthcare as a central strategy to halt the rise of diabetes and other NCDs. Through coordinated efforts, the international community aims to meet the 2030 and 2050 goals for diabetes prevention, care, and control.