Nearly Half of Diabetes Sufferers Unaware They Have the Condition

A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal has revealed a startling fact about global health. Nearly half of diabetes sufferers worldwide are unaware that they have the chronic disease. Researchers found that 44 per cent of people aged 15 years and above living with diabetes remain undiagnosed. This comprehensive study analysed data from 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2023. Despite progress over the past two decades, the study authors stress that lack of diagnosis and suboptimal glycaemic management remain major global challenges. This problem is far more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries. Lauryn Stafford, the study’s lead author, told CNN that the majority of subjects analysed had type 2 diabetes. “We found that only 56 per cent of people with diabetes are aware of their condition,” Stafford said. She also added the concerning fact that only 20 per cent of young adults with diabetes are aware of their disease. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, there are currently around 830 million people worldwide with diabetes, and more than half do not receive the necessary treatment. In the United States alone, the CDC reported in 2021 that 38.4 million people (11.6 per cent of the population) had diabetes, with 8.7 million of them unaware of their condition. The main danger of undiagnosed diabetes is its silent nature. Stafford explained that a person can survive with high glucose levels for years without debilitating symptoms. “People are often only diagnosed with diabetes when they have already developed complications,” she emphasised. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not use insulin properly and cannot maintain blood sugar levels at a normal range. Although typically diagnosed in adults, current trends show more young people are being diagnosed. Health experts from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases advise anyone experiencing symptoms to immediately have a blood test through a doctor to confirm their health condition early.