Global Burden: Prevalence and Projections, 2010 and 2030
At a glance
2010 2030
Total world population (billions) 7.0 8.4
Adult Population (20-79 Years, trillions) 4.3 6.5
Diabetes and IGT (20-79 years)
Diabetes
Overall prevalence (%) 6.6 7.8
Comparative prevalence (%) 6.4 7.7
Number of People with diabetes (millions) 285 438
IGT
Overall prevalence (%) 7.9 8.4
Comparative prevalence (%) 7.8 8.4
Number of People with IGT (millions) 344 472
Diabetes is nowadays the most common non-communicable diseases globally. This is the fourth and fifth leading cause of death in most countries with high income and it is now proven that the phenomenon is endemic in many economically developing countries and newly industrialized nations. Diabetes complications such as coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetes neuropathy, amputations, kidney failure and blindness are resulting in disability, life expectancy shorter and the costs of health care for any large company. Diabetes is undoubtedly one of the health problems the most serious of the 21st century which must be confronted.
The number of studies describing the epidemiology of diabetes in the last twenty years has been extraordinary. It is now recognized that these are countries with low and moderate income who are most affected by the burden of diabetes. However, many governments and stakeholders in public health still largely unaware of the magnitude, or, more importantly, the potential growth of diabetes and its serious complications in their own country.
Often in studies of population-based diabetes a substantial proportion of people with diabetes has not been previously diagnosed. The discovery of new cases during massive blood tests is mainly due to lack of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes in the early years, which means that people with diabetes may be unaware of their condition and do not look for Therefore medical care.
In addition to diabetes, the condition of glucose intolerance is also a major public health problem, both because of its association with diabetes incidence, because of his association with the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In this edition of the Diabetes Atlas IDF, the prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance has been estimated for each country for the years 2010 and 2030. Data are provided for 216 countries and territories, each spread over a seven regions defined by the IDF: Africa, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, North America and the Caribbean Central America and South Asia, South-eastern and western Pacific.
The data presented are those for adult diabetes type 1 and 2 combined, and glucose intolerance. Most people with diabetes as an adult, only the age of 20 to 79 years is taken into account. Estimates of Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents are presented in the section on diabetes in youth.
Two types of prevalence estimates are provided in this report: national prevalence, regional or global one hand, and the comparative prevalence of the other. The first indicates the percentage of a population has diabetes. It is appropriate to assess the burden of diabetes for each country or region. The second is therefore used for this purpose. It was calculated by assuming that all countries and regions have the same age profile. This reduces age differences between countries and regions and makes the figures more suited to comparisons.
The data presented here should be interpreted cautiously as general indicators of diabetes, and estimates will be revised as better and more epidemiological information becomes available. Comparisons of prevalences national, regional and even global one over the other should be conducted with utmost caution. Significant changes in prevalence or the number of people with diabetes from one edition to another of the atlas on diabetes is usually due to the use of more recent studies rather than a change in the profile of diabetes in the country. The sources of this edition include 34 new studies. Thus, the inclusion of more recent research brings us closer and more reliable real rates of diabetes, but these restrictions must still be considered. The main purpose of such reports is to stimulate action in the form of preventive and management programs and future research.
Reference materials on diabetes and glucose intolerance, and estimates for each country on which this summary is based are available in the download section.