Almost half of global diabetes cases may not be diagnosed with the effects most profound in young adults and those from central sub-Saharan Africa, according to latest research.
The research found diagnosis rates had improved from 2000 to 2023 but a large portion of those who were diagnosed were not receiving the proper treatment.
By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if almost half do not know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic, the researchers warned.
The study was led by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine along with a global network of collaborators with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which analysed the diabetes care cascade for all ages, sex, and 204 countries and territories from 2000 to 2023.
Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the analysis found an estimated 44% of people aged 15 and older with diabetes were unaware of their condition.
This was despite this younger population facing higher risks for long-term complications.
Among those who were diagnosed, 91% were on some form of pharmacological treatment. However, of those receiving treatment, only 42% had their blood sugar levels managed optimally.
This translated to just 21% of all people with diabetes globally having their condition under optimal management.
Global differences
Despite improvements over two decades, the research also found substantial regional diagnosis and treatment disparities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
High-income North America had the highest rates of diagnosis, while high-income Asia Pacific showed the highest rates of treatment among diagnosed individuals.
Southern Latin America had the highest rates of optimal blood sugar management among those treated.
In contrast, central sub-Saharan Africa faced the largest gaps in diagnosis, with fewer than 20% of people with diabetes being aware of their condition.
“Given the pace at which cases are rapidly rising, the research underscores the urgent need for investment in screening programs for younger populations and access to medications and glucose-monitoring tools, especially in underserved regions,” the researchers noted.
“In 2022, the World Health Organization set a target to have 80% of people with diabetes clinically diagnosed by 2030.