Over half a billion people worldwide currently live with diabetes, or 1 in 10 adults– making the disease one of the top leading causes of death and disability. World Diabetes Day, which is held each year on November 14, aims to bring awareness and education on diabetes, which is projected to impact more than a billion people worldwide in the next 30 years.
According to recent data published by The Lancet, 529 million people were living with diabetes worldwide in 2021, with most global cases being Type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable. As diabetes cases rapidly increase across the world, understanding the social, environmental, and structural factors that lead to the condition is crucial to implementing prevention, diagnostic, and management efforts.
The growing crisis of diabetes worldwide shows disproportionate impacts across geographic lines, with most cases being in low-and-middle-income countries. Several risk factors impact diabetes outcomes, such as diet, low physical activity, and environmental or occupational hazards. Additionally, social and financial barriers, as well as structural factors such as racism, largely influence people’s access to screening and care—leading to disparities in diabetes outcomes across populations.
World Diabetes Day 2023 focuses on equitable access to diabetes care, highlighting the need for awareness of the risks and complications associated with diabetes. Nearly 1 in 2 adults with diabetes go undiagnosed– and this year’s campaign aims to increase global knowledge about diabetes prevention, improve understanding of care, and ensure people worldwide can live informed, healthy lives. The World Diabetes Day site includes useful resources, such as infographics, data, and fact sheets on diabetes prevention and risks.
To learn more about diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases, check out our resource pack on Global Noncommunicable Diseases, or explore the selected resources below.
Selected Resources:
- WHO Fact Sheet: Diabetes, World Health Organization 2023
- IDF Diabetes Atlas, International Diabetes Federation
- Global Inequity in Diabetes, The Lancet 2023
- Noncommunicable Diseases Data Portal, World Health Organization