Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (sugar). It occurs when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar) or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes: This type is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with Type 1 diabetes require insulin injections for the rest of their lives. It is not preventable and usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.

Type 2 Diabetes: This type is more common and often related to lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity. In Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to its effects. It is often managed with lifestyle changes, oral medications, and sometimes insulin.

Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes, when not well-managed, can lead to several serious health complications, including:

1. Cardiovascular Issues
2. Kidney Damage (Nephropathy)
3. Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
4. Eye Problems (Retinopathy)
5. Foot Problems
6. Skin Conditions
7. Complications During Pregnancy

Major Diabetes Statistics 

1. Diabetes is a common chronic medical condition characterized by increased levels of blood sugar. 
2. The number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. (WHO) 
3. Approximately 38 million Americans, which is roughly 1 in 10 individuals, are affected by diabetes (CDC).
4. About 1.4 million people in the United States are currently dealing with type 1 diabetes (The International Diabetes Foundation).
5. In 2021 about 2 million Americans were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association). 
6. Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes. 
7. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for more than 90% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes in the United States (Cleveland Clinic). 
8. Diabetes is more common in men than in women (The Lancet).
9. In 2021, diabetes ranked as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, identified as the underlying cause in 103,294 death certificates (American Diabetes Association).
10. About 1 in 8 adults will test positive to diabetes by 2025 (international diabetes foundation).

How many people in the world have diabetes?

• According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 422 million people across the globe have diabetes. 
• Most of them reside in low- and middle-income countries, and each year, 1.5 million deaths are directly linked to diabetes. 
• The instances of diabetes and its prevalence have been consistently rising over the last few decades. 
• Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that approximately 38 million Americans, which is roughly 1 in 10 individuals, are affected by diabetes. 
• According to statistics published by the American Diabetes Association for the year 2021, diabetes affected 38.4 million Americans, comprising 11.6% of the population. Among them, approximately 2 million Americans live with type 1 diabetes, with around 304,000 being children and adolescents. 

Diabetes statistics by type

• The International Diabetes Foundation shares that over 1.4 million people in the United States are currently dealing with type 1 diabetes. Interestingly, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada have high numbers of cases despite their smaller populations.
• Type 1 diabetes can start at any age, but it typically begins during childhood or adolescence. 
• According to the International Diabetes Foundation, about 61 percent of those living with type 1 diabetes in the U.S. are between 20 and 59 years old, 28 percent are over 60, and approximately 12 percent are 20 or younger. 
• Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1. According to Cleveland Clinic out of the 37 million individuals in the U.S. affected by diabetes, about 90% to 95% are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). 
• Globally, researchers estimate that T2D impacts around 6.3% of the world's population. While T2D typically occurs in adults over 45, it can also affect individuals under 45, including children. This highlights the widespread nature of T2D and its potential impact on a broad age range.

Diabetes statistics by gender

• Research shows that diabetes is more common in men than in women. 
• Globally, about 17.7 million more men than women are living with diabetes. When it comes to type 2 diabetes, women often face more risk factors, particularly related to their weight, like obesity. 

Diabetes statistics by age

• Type 2 diabetes is more common in seniors that other ages while type 1 diabetes is more common in adults between 18-22 years. 

Number of deaths caused by diabetes 

• In 2021, diabetes ranked as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, identified as the underlying cause in 103,294 death certificates. A total of 399,401 death certificates listed diabetes as a contributing factor to the cause of death during that year.

Diabetes Statistics by Country

1. United States: Over 37.3 million Americans (11.3% of the population) have diabetes, with 28.7 million diagnosed and 8.5 million undiagnosed. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all cases. Approximately 96 million American adults (38% of the adult population) have prediabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., contributing to a higher risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and other complications.
2. China: China has the highest number of diabetes cases globally, with over 148 million adults living with diabetes. Higher rates in urban areas due to lifestyle changes, with 12.8% prevalence in cities compared to 8.2% in rural regions. Diabetes-related costs account for a significant portion of healthcare spending in China due to complications and hospital admissions.
3. India: India has over 77 million adults with diabetes, making it the second-highest globally. Cities like Chennai and Mumbai show a higher prevalence, with rates ranging from 12-18%. About 97,700 children and adolescents under 15 years old have Type 1 diabetes.
4. Brazil: Around 16.8 million people in Brazil have diabetes, with rates higher among women (10.4%) than men (8.3%). Public healthcare covers diabetes medications, but disparities exist between urban and rural regions. Increasing obesity rates and an aging population are major contributors to diabetes prevalence.
5. United Kingdom: Approximately 4.9 million people have diabetes in the UK, with an additional 13.6 million at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Represents about 90% of all diabetes cases. The National Health Service (NHS) spends around £10 billion annually on diabetes care.
6. Mexico: Diabetes affects 15.2% of the adult population, making it one of the leading causes of death. High rates of obesity contribute to diabetes, and access to care varies significantly by region. Diabetes care accounts for a substantial portion of Mexico's healthcare budget due to complications like kidney disease and heart issues.
7. Australia: Around 1.9 million Australians have diabetes, with 1.5 million diagnosed and an estimated 500,000 undiagnosed. The most common form, linked to sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Indigenous Australians are three times more likely to have diabetes compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

Diabetes Treatment Statistics

1. Medication Use: Metformin is the most commonly prescribed oral medication for Type 2 diabetes worldwide. It was prescribed more than 40 million times between 2020 and 2021. Globally, approximately 200 million people rely on insulin therapy, including 7.4 million Americans. Insulin is essential for all Type 1 diabetes patients and around 30% of Type 2 patients. Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic) and SGLT2 inhibitors (like Jardiance) has risen by over 20% annually due to benefits in blood sugar control and cardiovascular health.
2. Blood Sugar Monitoring: Nearly 95% of patients with Type 1 diabetes use some form of blood glucose monitoring, including traditional finger-stick tests and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). In the U.S., more than 30% of insulin-dependent patients use CGMs, a number that has doubled in the past five years.
3. Lifestyle Management: Around 60-70% of people with Type 2 diabetes use dietary modifications as a primary treatment strategy, focusing on low-carb or Mediterranean diets. Globally, about 50% of diabetes patients are advised to increase physical activity, with walking and moderate exercise being the most recommended.

Sources

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What is diabetes? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Diabetes: The cost and management of this pervasive chronic disease. Preventing Chronic Disease, 20. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/23_0173.htm
3. Mishra, S. (2023, September 22). India has highest number of diabetic people in the world, even more than China: Report. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/india-has-highest-number-of-diabetic-people-in-the-world-even-more-than-china-report/articleshow/115282512.cms
4. Panda, P., & Kumar, A. (2021). Global diabetes prevalence: Emerging challenge for developing countries. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(12), 4514-4519. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8725109
5. Cheng, L., Zheng, M., Wang, Z., & Zhang, Q. (2022). Diabetes in the elderly: Challenges in management. Current Diabetes Reports, 22(8), 845-860. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10012111
6. Kalra, S., Sharma, S. K., Riaz, M., & Zhang, Q. (2020). Type 2 diabetes: An epidemic in South Asia. World Journal of Diabetes, 11(10), 490-503. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7613876
7. Diabetes Australia. Diabetes in Australia. https://www.diabetessa.com.au/Web/About_Diabetes/Diabetes_in_Australia.aspx
8. Statista Research Department. (2023). Number of metformin hydrochloride prescriptions in the U.S. from 2013 to 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/780332/metformin-hydrochloride-prescriptions-number-in-the-us/
9. Papatheodorou, K., Banach, M., Edmonds, M., & Papanas, N. (2021). Diabetes and cardiovascular disease: A state of the art review. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 28(10), 1051-1062. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8370559
10. Sun, H., Saeedi, P., Karuranga, S., Pinkepank, M., Ogurtsova, K., Duncan, B. B., ... & Zimmet, P. Z. (2017). IDF Diabetes Atlas: Global, regional, and country-level diabetes prevalence estimates for 2019 and projections for 2030 and 2045. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 5(1), e000342. https://drc.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000342

Menke, A., Casagrande, S., Geiss, L., & Cowie, C. C. (2015). Prevalence of and trends in diabetes among adults in the United States, 1988-2012. In Diabetes in America (3rd ed.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549946