Diabetes is a growing global health issue, and a new study has found that many people with the condition are still not diagnosed or are not receiving proper care.
The study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, was carried out by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine, along with researchers from around the world.
The researchers looked at data from the year 2000 to 2023. They analyzed diabetes care in 204 countries and regions, across all age groups and genders.
In 2023, they found that about 44% of people aged 15 and older who have diabetes did not know they had the disease. This is especially true for young adults, who are at higher risk for long-term health problems if the condition goes untreated.
Even among those who were diagnosed, not everyone received proper care. About 91% of people who knew they had diabetes were taking medication.
But only 42% of those treated had their blood sugar levels under good control. This means only 21% of all people with diabetes worldwide are managing the condition effectively.
While care has improved over the past 20 years, big differences still exist between regions. People in rich countries like the U.S. and Canada are more likely to be diagnosed.
In contrast, Central sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest diagnosis rates—less than 20% of people with diabetes in this region know they have it.
Treatment also varies. In the Asia Pacific region, many people who are diagnosed get treated. In Southern Latin America, those who are treated are more likely to keep their blood sugar levels under control.
These differences show that better access to diagnosis and treatment is needed in many parts of the world. Lauryn Stafford, a researcher at IHME and lead author of the study, said the problem could grow much worse.
She warned that by 2050, 1.3 billion people could be living with diabetes. If nearly half don’t know they have it, the disease could become a silent epidemic.
The study stresses the need to improve screening for younger people and ensure access to medication and blood sugar monitoring in underserved areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to diagnose 80% of people with diabetes by the year 2030.
These findings highlight the urgency of investing in early detection and proper care to avoid serious health issues in the future.
The study is published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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