prevalence of diabetes around world

Key facts

• The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014
• The global prevalence of diabetes* among adults over 18 years of age has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 20141.
• Diabetes prevalence has been rising more rapidly in middle- and low-income countries1.
• Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation
• In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes and another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose**1.
• Almost half of all deaths attributable to high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 years1. WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030 .
• Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications

---

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar 3. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels