Global, regional, and national burden and trend of diabetes in 195 countries and territories: an analysis from 1990 to 2025

TLDR

Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of mortality and reduced life expectancy. The study estimates diabetes burden by type, year, region, and socioeconomic status across 195 countries over 28 years to inform WHO’s 2025 NCD prevention plan. The analysis used Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 data. Diabetes burden rose markedly since 1990, reaching 476 million prevalent cases and 1.37 million deaths in 2017, with projections of 570.9 million cases and 1.59 million deaths by 2025; regional disparities were pronounced, type‑2 trends mirrored total diabetes while type‑1 mortality declined, and high BMI and lifestyle factors were the leading contributors to deaths and DALYs.

Abstract

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of mortality and reduced life expectancy. We aim to estimate the burden of diabetes by type, year, regions, and socioeconomic status in 195 countries and territories over the past 28 years, which provide information to achieve the goal of World Health Organization Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in 2025. Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Overall, the global burden of diabetes had increased significantly since 1990. Both the trend and magnitude of diabetes related diseases burden varied substantially across regions and countries. In 2017, global incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) associated with diabetes were 22.9 million, 476.0 million, 1.37 million, and 67.9 million, with a projection to 26.6 million, 570.9 million, 1.59 million, and 79.3 million in 2025, respectively. The trend of global type 2 diabetes burden was similar to that of total diabetes (including type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes), while global age-standardized rate of mortality and DALYs for type 1 diabetes declined. Globally, metabolic risks (high BMI) and behavioral factors (inappropriate diet, smoking, and low physical activity) contributed the most attributable death and DALYs of diabetes. These estimations could be useful in policy-making, priority setting, and resource allocation in diabetes prevention and treatment.