The current estimated total number of people with diabetes globally is 366 million, and will most likely rise to 552 million within the next two decades if no urgent action is taken immediately, i.e. 10% of the world’s adult population, according to a new report “Diabetes Atlas” (5th Edition), produced by the International Diabetes Federation. Three new diagnoses will be made every ten seconds, nearly ten million annually, the authors added.

Experts believe that approximately 183 million people have diabetes but don’t know it.

Diabetes will gradually replace infectious diseases as the major public health problem over the next twenty years. Cases of diabetes in Africa will probably rise by 90% by 2030. Over three-quarters of people in Africa who have diabetes are unaware of their diabetes status.

The report also found that:

  • 80% of people worldwide with diabetes are from developing nations
  • Annually, there are 78,000 new cases of childhood diabetes (diabetes type 1)
  • Diabetes is most prevalent among people aged from 40 to 59 years

President of the International Diabetes Federation, Jean Claude Mbanya, said:

“In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease. We want World Diabetes Day 2011 to bring these alarming diabetes facts into the global spotlight. We demand that public and world leaders act on diabetes now”.

Ann Keeling, CEO, International Diabetes Federation and Chair of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance, said:

“World leaders have recognised the magnitude and impact of these diseases and the urgent need for action. In some key areas we wanted stronger commitments and targets but the Declaration will accelerate international progress on diabetes and NCDs, saving millions of people from preventable death and disability.”

The International Diabetes Federation hopes that World Diabetes Day (November 14th) will help spur the move from diabetes advocacy to action on a worldwide scale.

In Europe, 116,000 children have diabetes type 1. Approximately 18,000 new diagnoses of diabetes type one will probably be made in this region this year. Currently, 52.8 million Europeans have diabetes (either type 1 or type 2); this figure is expected to rise to 64.2 million within the next twenty years.

In North Africa and the Middle East, 9.1% of the population currently live with diabetes. The number of people with diabetes is set to double from the present 32.6 million within the next twenty years.

37.7 million people have diabetes in North America and the Caribbean, according to the International Diabetes Federation. This figure is likely to grow by at least one third within the next two decades. Approximately 11.9 million people with diabetes in this region do not know they have it. About 180,000 people in the USA die each year due to diabetes.

Diabetes affects 25.1 million people in Central and South America. Over the next twenty years this figure is expected to rise by nearly 60%. Only 4.5% of global diabetes expenditure is spent in this region. 12.4 million people in Brazil have diabetes. 11.2 million people in Central and South America with diabetes do not know about their diabetes status.

In South East Asia there are 71.4 million diabetics; by 2030 this figure is expected to rise to 120.9 million. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 36.3 million people with diabetes have not yet been diagnosed. 18,000 children aged 15 years or less will have developed diabetes type 1 in 2011.

8.5% of the adult population in the Western Pacific region have diabetes, a total of 131.9 million people. Ninety million people live with diabetes in China. 15% of all deaths in South East Asia are attributable to diabetes, the highest rate in the world.

Written by Christian Nordqvist