Diabetes affects more than 800 million adults, half of whom are not taking their medications.

Total number of adults living with diabetes type 1 or type 2 in the world exceeded 800 millionwhich is more than four times the total in 1990, according to the study, which shows that more than half (59%) of these people aged 30 and older were not receiving treatment in 2022.

The analysis was published in the journal The Lancet marks World Diabetes Day. Of the 828 million adults with diabetes in 2022, more than a quarter (212 million) lived in India and another 148 million in China, followed by the United States (42 million), Pakistan (36 million), Indonesia (25 million) and Brazil. (22 million).

The study was unable to separate type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults. However, Previous data suggest that the vast majority of cases are type 2.

– noted in the magazine report.

Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London notes that Results show growing global inequalityIn many low- and middle-income countries, where the number of adults with diabetes is rising sharply, treatment levels remain stagnant.

“This is especially worrying because people with diabetes tend to be younger in low-income countries and without effective treatment, they are at risk of lifelong complications, including amputation, heart disease, kidney damage or vision loss, and in some cases, premature death.”

An important factor in the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes and its variation between countries is obesity and poor nutrition.

The work was carried out by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration network of scientists in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Data from more than 140 million people aged 18 years and older was used.of approximately 1,000 studies – treatments were analyzed using data from adults aged 30 years and older -; In addition, statistical tools were used.

From 1990 to 2022, the global rate of diabetes doubled among both men (from 6.8% in 1990 to 14.3% in 2022) and women (from 6.9% to 13.9%). If we add to this the impact of population growth and aging, this is equivalent to an estimate of 828 million people. an increase of approximately 630 million people since 1990.

when about 198 million adults had the disease.

The greatest growth occurred mainly in low and middle income countries (for example, the rate of diabetes among women in Pakistan has increased from 9% in 1990 to 30.9% in 2022, the largest increase of any country).

In higher income countries such as Japan, Canada and some Western European countries (eg France, Spain and Denmark), no changes were observedor even a slight decline over the past three decades.

The countries with the lowest rates in 2022 were in Western Europe and East Africa for both sexes, and Japan and Canada for women.

For example, these rates that year were as low as the previous year. 2-4% for women in France, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden, and 3-5% for men in Denmark, France, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Spain and Rwanda, according to the Lancet.

No drugs

Three in five adults age 30 and older with diabetes (445 million) were not receiving medications in 2022. three and a half times more than in 1990.

Since this decade, several countries, including many countries in Central and Western Europe, Latin America, East Asia and the Pacific, as well as Canada and South Korea, have seen significant improvements in treatment rates, resulting in more than 55% receiving medicines in 2022.

The highest treatment rates were observed in Belgium (86% women, 77% men). In Spain, 72% for women and 68% for men.