In 2023, about 44% of people living with diabetes worldwide were undiagnosed, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. Researchers highlighted that underdiagnosis and poor management of blood sugar levels remain major challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
India Shows Progress in Diabetes Diagnosis
As reported by The Hindu, the study found that 43.6% of India’s diabetic population received a diagnosis in 2023, reflecting a nearly 14% increase compared to 2000. Encouragingly, over 97% of diagnosed individuals were under treatment last year, according to the findings of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.
Global Trends in Diagnosis and Treatment
Between 2000 and 2023, data from 204 countries and territories revealed that more than 55% of people aged 15 and older worldwide were diagnosed with diabetes. However, regional disparities remain stark.
- North America recorded the highest diagnosis rates.
- High-income Asia Pacific countries, including Japan and South Korea, reported the highest treatment rates among diagnosed patients.
- Southern Latin America (Chile, Argentina) showed the best results for achieving optimal glycaemic control.
- Central sub-Saharan Africa faced the greatest challenges, with fewer than 20% of diabetics aware of their condition.
Rising Threat of a Silent Epidemic
“If nearly half don’t know they have a serious and potentially deadly condition, diabetes could easily become a silent epidemic,” warned lead author Lauryn Stafford, a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, which coordinates the GBD study. The international team also included researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Urgent Need for Youth Screening and Access to Care
Researchers stressed the urgent need for screening programmes, especially among young people, given the rapid rise in cases. They noted that while access to medicines and glucose-monitoring tools has improved, underserved regions still require greater investment in healthcare infrastructure.
WHO Targets for 2030
In May 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) set ambitious goals:
- 80% of people with diabetes should be clinically diagnosed by 2030.
- 80% of diagnosed individuals should achieve good glycaemic control.
- 80% should also maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
These targets, if met, could significantly reduce the global burden of diabetes in the coming decades.