Epidemiology of diabetes

Globally, an estimated 537 million adults are living with diabetes, according to the latest 2019 data from the International Diabetes Federation.[1] Diabetes prevalence is increasing rapidly; previous 2019 estimates put the number at 463 million people living with diabetes.[2] The number is projected to 643 million by 2030.[1] Type 2 diabetes makes up about 85-90% of all cases.[3][4] Increases in the overall diabetes prevalence rates largely reflect an increase in risk factors for type 2, notably greater longevity and being overweight or obese.[5]

Diabetes mellitus occurs throughout the world, but is more common (especially type 2) in the more developed countries. The greatest increase in prevalence is, however, occurring in low- and middle-income countries[5] including in Asia and Africa, where most patients will probably be found by 2030.[6] The increase in incidence in developing countries follows the trend of urbanization and lifestyle changes, including increasingly sedentary lifestyles, less physically demanding work and the global nutrition transition, marked by increased intake of foods that are high energy-dense but nutrient-poor (often high in sugar and saturated fats, sometimes referred to as the Western pattern diet).[5][6] The risk of getting type 2 diabetes has been widely found to be associated with lower socio-economic position across countries.[7]

The WHO estimates that diabetes resulted in 1.5 million deaths in 2012, making it the 8th leading cause of death.[5] However another 2.2 million deaths worldwide were attributable to high blood glucose and the increased risks of associated complications (e.g. heart disease, stroke, kidney failure), which often result in premature death and are often listed as the underlying cause on death certificates rather than diabetes.[5][8] A study done on Gomel city population with radiation exposure after the Chernobyl incident demonstrated increased incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus.[9][10]

## Contents

* 1 Asia
* 1.1 China
* 1.2 India
* 2 Europe
* 2.1 United Kingdom
* 3 North America
* 3.1 Canada
* 3.2 United States
* 4 Oceania and the Pacific
* 4.1 Australia
* 5 Africa
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## Asia[edit | edit source]

Prevalence (per 1,000 inhabitants) of diabetes worldwide in 2000 - world average was 2.8%.

no data

≤ 7.5

7.5–15

15–22.5

22.5–30

30–37.5

37.5–45

45–52.5

52.5–60

60–67.5

67.5–75

75–82.5

≥ 82.5

|

Disability-adjusted life year for diabetes mellitus per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004

No data

<100

100–200

200–300

300–400

400–500

500–600

600–700

700–800

800–900

900–1,000

1,000–1,500

>1,500

|

### China[edit | edit source]

Almost one Chinese adult in four has diabetes[1]. The International Diabetes Federation estimated in 2021 more than 140 million Chinese adults with diabetes[11]. The incidence of the disease is increasing rapidly: a reported 30% increase in 7 years.[12] Indigenous nomadic peoples like Tibetans and Mongols are at much higher susceptibility than Han Chinese.

### India[edit | edit source]

India has the second highest number of people with diabetes[1]. Diabetes currently affects more than 74 million Indians, which is more than 8.3% of the adult population[1]. Among young and middle aged adults the prevalence of diabetes is 6.7% and prediabetes is 5.6% according to the National Family Health Survey-4.[13] The average age on onset is 42.5 years.[14] Nearly 1 million Indians die due to diabetes every year.[14]

According to the Indian Heart Association, India is projected to be home to 109 million individuals with diabetes by 2035.[15] A study by the American Diabetes Association reports that India will see the greatest increase in people diagnosed with diabetes by 2030.[16] The high incidence is attributed to a combination of genetic susceptibility plus adoption of a high-calorie, low-activity lifestyle by India's growing middle class.[17]

## Europe[edit | edit source]

### United Kingdom[edit | edit source]

About 3.8 million people in the United Kingdom have diabetes mellitus, but the charity Diabetes U.K. have made predictions that could become high as 6.2 million by 2035–2036. The NHS spent a daily average of £2.2m (€2.6m; $3.7m) in 2013 on prescriptions for managing diabetes in primary care, and about 10% of the primary care prescribing budget is spent on treating diabetes.[18] Diabetes U.K. have also predicted that the National Health Service could be spending as much as 16.9 billion pounds on diabetes mellitus by 2035, a figure that means the NHS could be spending as much as 17% of its budget on diabetes treatment by 2035.[19][20] However, since the United Kingdom practices a national health care system with universal access, there are far fewer cases of diagnosed diabetes compared to the United States.[21]

## North America[edit | edit source]

### Canada[edit | edit source]

Almost 2.4 million Canadians (6.8%) have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, based on 2009 cronic disease surveillance data. Prevalence is higher among males (7.2%) than females (6.4%).[8] However these numbers are likely an underestimate, as data obtained from blood samples indicate about 20% of diabetes cases remain undiagnosed.[22]

Accounting for the younger age structure in Aboriginal populations, the prevalence of diabetes is 2-3 times higher among First Nations and Métis, compared to the non-Aboriginal population.[8]

The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among Canadians increased by 70% over the decade from 1999 to 2009.[8] The greatest relative increase in prevalence was seen younger adults (35 to 44 years), attributable in part to increasing rates of overweight and obesity. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that if current trends in diabetes continue, the number of Canadians living with diabetes will reach 3.7 million by 2019.[8]

### United States[edit | edit source]

Diabetes rates at county levels 2004 - 2009. Diabetes rates in the United States, 1994-2010

Diabetes rates in the United States, like across North America and around the world, have been increasing substantially. According to the 2014 Statistics Report done by the CDC it was found that, "Diabetes Mellitus affects an estimated 29.1 million people in the United States and is the 7th leading cause of death. It also increases the chances of mortality, as well as the risk for heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness"[23] While the number of people with diabetes in the US continues to grow, the number of new cases has been declining since 2009, after decades of increases in new cases.[24] In 2014, more than 29 million people had diabetes in the United States, of whom 7 million people remain undiagnosed.[25] As of 2012 another 57 million people were estimated to have prediabetes.[26][27] There were approximately 12.1 million diabetes-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2010 for adults aged 18 years or older (515 per 10,000 U.S. population), accounting for 9.4 percent of all ED visits.[28]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called the change an epidemic.[29] Geographically, there is a U.S. diabetes belt with high diabetes prevalence estimates, which includes Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.[30] The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse estimates diabetes costs $132 billion in the United States alone every year. About 5%–10% of diabetes cases in North America are type 1, with the rest being type 2\. The fraction of type 1 in other parts of the world differs. Most of this difference is not currently understood. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) cites the 2003 assessment of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that one in three Americans born after 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetimes.[31][32]

Diabetes is also more prominent in minority groups. For example, according to the American Diabetes Association the rates of diagnosed diabetes are 12.8% of Hispanics, 13.2% of Non-Hispanic blacks, 15.9% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives. While Non-Hispanic whites are 7.6% and only 9% of Asian Americans have diagnosed diabetes.[33] 4.9% of American adults had diabetes in 1990. By 1998, that number rose by a third to 6.5%. The prevalence of diabetes increased for both sexes and every racial group. American women have suffered from diabetes at a higher rate than men, with 7.4% of women being diabetic in 1998, as opposed to only 5.5% of men. The increase in diabetes coincides with an increase in average weight across both genders. In the same time frame, average weight in both men and women increased by nearly 4 kilograms. This relates to the fact that the most common form of diabetes, type 2, is strongly associated with unhealthy weight. Older Americans have suffered from diabetes at a much higher rate than younger people, with over 12% of those in their 60s and 70s being diabetic in 1998. In the same year, less than 2% of those under 30 suffered from diabetes. Weight is also a strong factor in one's likelihood of becoming diabetic, with 13.5% of obese Americans in 1998 being diabetic. In the same year, only 3.5% of people at a healthy weight had the disease.[34]

As of 2006, about 18.3% (8.6 million) of Americans age 60 and older had diabetes, according to the ADA.[35] Diabetes mellitus prevalence increases with age, and the numbers of older persons with diabetes are expected to grow as the elderly population increases in number. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) from 1988 to 1994 demonstrated, in the population over 65 years old, 18% to 20% had diabetes, with 40% having either diabetes or its precursor form of impaired glucose tolerance.[36] Older individuals are also more likely to be seen in the emergency department (ED) for diabetes. A study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that in 2010, diabetes-related ED visit rates were highest for patients aged 65 and older (1,307 per 10,000 population), compared with 45- to 64-year-olds (584 per 10,000 population) and 18- to 44-year-olds (183 per 10,000 population).[28]

A second study by AHRQ found that diabetes with complications was one of the twenty most expensive conditions seen in U.S. inpatient hospitalizations in 2011, with an aggregate cost of nearly $5.4 billion for 561,000 stays. It was among the top five most expensive conditions for uninsured patients, at an aggregate cost of $440 million for 62,000 hospitalizations.[37]

## Oceania and the Pacific[edit | edit source]

### Australia[edit | edit source]

An estimated 1.5 million Australians have diabetes[1]. Indigenous populations in developed countries generally have higher prevalence and incidence of diabetes than their corresponding nonindigenous populations. In Australia, the age-standardised prevalence of self-reported diabetes in indigenous Australians is almost four times that of nonindigenous Australians.[38] Reasons include higher rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and living in poor housing and environments among Indigenous peoples.[4] Preventative community health programs are showing some success in tackling this problem.

## Africa[edit | edit source]

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 23.6 million are living with diabetes in Africa[1]. The region of Africa has the highest percentage of undiagnosed diabetes cases reaching 53.6%s[1].

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Epidemiology of obesity
* Epidemiology of childhood obesity

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2021. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org Archived 2022-06-10 at the Wayback Machine.
2. ↑ "International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2019". `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|url=` (help)
3. ↑ Williams textbook of endocrinology (12th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders. 2011. pp. 1371–1435. ISBN 978-1-4377-0324-5.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, Chronic conditions: Diabetes. Archived 2018-04-06 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 31 August 2016.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 World Health Organization, Global Report on Diabetes Archived 2020-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Geneva, 2016. Accessed 30 August 2016.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H (2004). "Global prevalence of diabetes: Estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030". Diabetes Care. 27 (5): 1047–53. doi:10.2337/diacare.27.5.1047. PMID 15111519.
7. ↑ Agardh, E; et al. (2011). "Type 2 diabetes incidence and socio-economic position: a systematic review and meta-analysis". International Journal of Epidemiology. 40 (3): 804–818. doi:10.1093/ije/dyr029. PMID 21335614.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Public Health Agency of Canada, Diabetes in Canada: Facts and figures from a public health perspective. Ottawa, 2011.
9. ↑ Zalutskaya A, Mokhort T, Garmaev D, Bornstein SR (2004). "Did the Chernobyl incident cause an increase in Type 1 diabetes mellitus incidence in children and adolescents?". Diabetologia; 47 (1). 47 (1): 147–148. doi:10.1007/s00125-003-1271-9. ISSN 0012-186X. PMID 14658035.
10. ↑ Venturi, Sebastiano (January 2021). "Cesium in Biology, Pancreatic Cancer, and Controversy in High and Low Radiation Exposure Damage—Scientific, Environmental, Geopolitical, and Economic Aspects". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (17): 8934. doi:10.3390/ijerph18178934. PMC 8431133. PMID 34501532.
11. ↑ International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2021. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org Archived 2022-06-10 at the Wayback Machine.
12. ↑ Grens, Kerry (April 4, 2012). "Diabetes continuing to spike in China". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
13. ↑ Chandrupatla, Siddardha Gowtam; Khalid, Isma; Muthuluri, Tejdeep; Dantala, Satyanarayana; Tavares, Mary (2020-09-18). "Diabetes and prediabetes Prevalence Among Young and Middle Aged Adults, And Geographic Differences In India- National Family Health Survey". Epidemiology and Health. 42: e2020065. doi:10.4178/epih.e2020065. ISSN 2092-7193. PMC 7871157. PMID 32972049.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gale, Jason (November 7, 2010). "India's Diabetes Epidemic Cuts Down Millions Who Escape Poverty". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
15. ↑ "Overview". Indian Heart Association. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
16. ↑ Wild, Sarah, Gojka Roglic, Anders Green, Richard Sicree, and Hilary King. "Global Prevalence of Diabetes." Diabetes Care. American Diabetes Association, 26 Jan. 2004. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
17. ↑ Kleinfield, N. R. (September 13, 2006). "Modern Ways Open India's Doors to Diabetes". New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
18. ↑ Iacobucci, G. (2014). "Diabetes prescribing in England consumes nearly 10% of primary care budget". BMJ. 349: g5143. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5143. PMID 25121512. S2CID 33264431.
19. ↑ "NHS spending on diabetes 'to reach £16.9 billion by 2035'". 2012-04-25. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
20. ↑ "Diabetes: cases and costs predicted to rise". nhs.uk. 2012-04-25. Archived from the original on 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
21. ↑ Mainous, Arch G; Diaz, Vanessa A; Saxena, Sonia; Baker, Richard; Everett, Charles J; Koopman, Richelle J; Majeed, Azeem (September 2006). "Diabetes management in the USA and England: comparative analysis of national surveys". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 99 (9): 463–469. doi:10.1177/014107680609900918. ISSN 0141-0768. PMC 1557885. PMID 16946390.
22. ↑ Rosella, LC; et al. (2015). "Prevalence of Prediabetes and Undiagnosed Diabetes in Canada (2007-2011) According to Fasting Plasma Glucose and HbA1c Screening Criteria". Diabetes Care. 38 (7): 1299–305. doi:10.2337/dc14-2474. PMID 25852207.
23. ↑ "2014 Statistics Report | Data & Statistics | Diabetes | CDC". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
24. ↑ Shute, Nancy. "Fewer People Are Getting Diabetes, But The Epidemic Isn't Over". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
25. ↑ "CDC Features - Diabetes Latest". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
26. ↑ "Number of Americans with Diabetes Rises to Nearly 26 Million" (Press release). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011-01-26. Archived from the original on 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
27. ↑ "National diabetes fact sheet: national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, 2011" (PDF). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Washington R.E., Andrews R.M., Mutter R.L. Emergency Department Visits for Adults with Diabetes, 2010. HCUP Statistical Brief #167. November 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. [1] Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine.
29. ↑ "Diabetes Rates Rise Another 6 Percent in 1999 — January 26, 2001". Archived from the original on 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
30. ↑ Barker, LE; Kirtland, KA; Gregg, EW; Geiss, LS; Thompson, TJ (2011). "Geographic distribution of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S.: a diabetes belt". Am J Prev Med. 40 (4): 434–9. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.12.019. PMID 21406277. quoted in Ward, Brian W.; Black, Lindsey I. (2016). "State and Regional Prevalence of Diagnosed Multiple Chronic Conditions Among Adults Aged ?18 Years — United States, 2014". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 65 (29): 735–738. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6529a3. PMID 27467707.
31. ↑ Narayan KM, Boyle JP, Thompson TJ, Sorensen SW, Williamson DF (October 2003). "Lifetime risk for diabetes mellitus in the United States". JAMA. 290 (14): 1884–90. doi:10.1001/jama.290.14.1884. PMID 14532317.
32. ↑ "Total Prevalence of Diabetes & Pre-diabetes". American Diabetes Association. 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2006-03-17.
33. ↑ "Statistics About Diabetes". American Diabetes Association. Archived from the original on 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
34. ↑ Mokdad, A.; Ford, E.; Bowman, B.; Nelson, D.; Engelgau, M.; Vinicor, F.; Marks, J. (2000). "Diabetes trends in the U.S.: 1990-1998". Diabetes Care. 23 (9): 1278–1283. doi:10.2337/diacare.23.9.1278. PMID 10977060.
35. ↑ "Seniors and Diabetes". Elderly And Diabetes-Diabetes and Seniors. LifeMed Media. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
36. ↑ Harris MI, Flegal KM, Cowie CC, Eberhardt MS, Goldstein DE, Little RR, Wiedmeyer HM, Byrd-Holt DD (April 1998). "Prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance in U.S. adults. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994". Diabetes Care. 21 (4): 518–24. doi:10.2337/diacare.21.4.518. PMID 9571335. S2CID 12302877.
37. ↑ Torio CM, Andrews RM. National Inpatient Hospital Costs: The Most Expensive Conditions by Payer, 2011. HCUP Statistical Brief #160. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. August 2013. [2] Archived 2017-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
38. ↑ Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. "Diabetes, an overview". Archived from the original on 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-06-23.

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