A recent study estimates that by 2050, approximately 1.3 billion adults worldwide will have diabetes.
The research findings were published in The Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journals. According to the study, the number of people with diabetes will rise from 529 million in 2021 to over 1.3 billion by 2050. The Guardian reported that, based on this research, no country is expected to see a decrease in diabetes rates over the next 30 years.
Experts describe this data as alarming, stating that diabetes is surpassing most other diseases globally, posing a significant threat to human health and healthcare systems.
The number of diabetes cases is projected to increase from 529 million in 2021 to over 1.3 billion by 2050. (Image Source: Guardian).
“Diabetes remains one of the biggest public health threats of our time and is expected to rise significantly in the next three decades across all countries, age groups, and genders, posing serious challenges to healthcare systems worldwide,” said Dr. Shivani Agarwal from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
In another development, the United Nations predicts that by 2050, the world’s population will be around 9.8 billion. Combining this with the previous prediction, it can be seen that by then, approximately 1 in 7 or 1 in 8 people globally will have to live with diabetes.
The study authors also highlighted: “Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for the majority of diabetes cases, is preventable and, in some cases, can be reversed if diagnosed and managed early in the treatment process. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes rates are rising worldwide, primarily due to increased obesity stemming from various factors.”
Dr. Alisha Wade, co-author and associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, stated: “It is crucial that the impact of economic and social factors on diabetes is recognized, understood, and incorporated into efforts to address the global diabetes crisis.”
The charity Diabetes UK remarked that the high number of overweight or obese individuals – about 64% of adults in the UK – is leading to an increase in Type 2 diabetes cases. Diabetes UK noted that risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are “diverse and complex”, including age, family history, and weight.
Chris Askew, CEO of Diabetes UK, analyzed: “This important study highlights the scale of the diabetes crisis we are facing, both in the UK and worldwide. Your race, where you live, and your income all affect your likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes. The care you receive and your long-term health, all these factors are interconnected. Urgent coordinated action is needed among governments to address the inequality in diabetes rates, as well as underlying health issues such as poverty and living with obesity.”
