Type 2 Diabetes Cases in Indonesia Continue to Rise, Requiring Prevention Efforts and Better Treatment Access
Ramadhan presents not only an opportunity for spiritual reflection but also a chance for communities to improve their eating patterns and adopt healthier lifestyles. For some, the fasting period can even provide metabolic benefits if approached with balanced consumption patterns.
More regular and healthier eating habits can help prevent various non-communicable diseases, including diabetes mellitus, which remains a significant health challenge in Indonesia.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 2025, approximately 11.1 per cent, or one in nine adults aged 20–79 years globally, live with diabetes. Notably, more than four in ten people with the condition are unaware they have it.
Over 90 per cent of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic disease characterised by elevated blood sugar levels resulting from insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. This condition is influenced by socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, and genetic factors, affecting how the body uses glucose as an energy source and representing the most common form of diabetes among adults.
The IDF Diabetes Atlas 2025 indicates approximately 19.5 million adults live with type 2 diabetes mellitus globally, underscoring the importance of raising public awareness, implementing prevention strategies, and ensuring access to better treatment options.
Managing type 2 diabetes requires comprehensive behavioural changes, including healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, stress management, and maintaining sleep quality. Individualised treatment plans under healthcare professional supervision are also essential in helping patients manage their condition.
Christophe Piganiol, President Director of PT Anugerah Pharmindo Lestari (APL), a subsidiary of Zuellig Pharma, stated that collaboration among various stakeholders is necessary to improve diabetes healthcare service access for Indonesian patients. APL is committed to providing various healthcare solutions, including distribution and commercialisation of health products and support for clinical trials to bring the latest therapeutic options to patients.
One innovative therapy now becoming available is tirzepatide, a medication with a novel mechanism of action for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. This drug works through two receptors simultaneously—GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)—which regulate blood sugar levels.
The introduction of this new therapy is supported by the role of the Indonesian Drug and Food Authority (BPOM), which ensures that circulating medications meet safety and quality standards. In its latest evaluation, BPOM approved the distribution licence for this new molecule through an accelerated registration pathway with evaluation completed in approximately 98 days, whilst maintaining safety and integrity standards.
With increased access to quality therapies, it is hoped that more type 2 diabetes patients in Indonesia will receive appropriate treatment and experience improved quality of life.