Global Statistics

Diabetes is now a global epidemic. Ongoing R&D is needed to help those living with disease.

  • Recent estimates (IDF Diabetes Atlas) indicate that there are 382 million people living with diabetes worldwide.
  • By 2035, 592 million people or one person in ten will have the disease.
  • 316 million people are currently at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes
  • This number is likely to grow to nearly 600 million within a generation.

What makes this pandemic particularly challenging is that throughout much of the world, it remains hidden. Up to half of all people with diabetes globally remain undiagnosed. These facts and figures reiterate the importance of urgent action. Most cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and the serious complications of diabetes can be avoided through healthy lifestyles and living environments that encourage and facilitate healthy behaviour.

(Source: (IDF) International Diabetic Federation)

Regional Highlights

Canada

  • According to Diabetes Canada, one in three Canadian has diabetes or prediabetes. Only 33% of Canadians are aware that stroke is a complication of diabetes. Only 40% of Canadians identified heart disease as a complication of diabetes. Annually, people living with diabetes account for 30% of strokes; 40% of heart attacks; and, 50% of kidney failure requiring dialysis. (Source: Diabetes Canada 2019; www.diabetes.ca)

USA

  • CDC Report: More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. More than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or prediabetes, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report finds that as of 2015, 30.3 million Americans – 9.4 percent of the U.S. population –have diabetes. Another 84.1 million have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017, American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org/research)

World Health Organization

Prevalence is increasing among all age groups in these regions, mostly owing to increases in lifestyle-related risk factors.

  • The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 20141.
  • The global prevalence of diabetes* among adults over 18 years of age has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 20141.
  • Diabetes prevalence has been rising more rapidly in middle- and low-income countries1.
  • Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation1.
  • In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes and another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose**1.
  • Almost half of all deaths attributable to high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 years1. WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030 2.
  • A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes1.
  • Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications1.

Diabetes Prevalence by Country

In order to combat the global epidemic of diabetes and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), it is imperative to create a baseline for monitoring trends and to assess the progress of countries in addressing the epidemic.
The aim of the diabetes country profiles is to synthesize, in one reference document, the national status of diabetes prevention and control. Each profile includes data on diabetes prevalence and trends; mortality; risk factors; availability of diabetes country plans; monitoring and surveillance; primary prevention and treatment policies and availability of medicines, basic technologies and procedures

https://www.who.int/diabetes/country-profiles/en/

(Source: World Health Organization, https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/diabetes, 2019)