Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health conditions in the world, yet new modeling based on the Global Burden of Disease study (2000-2023) shows that nearly half of people living with it don’t know they have it.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 200 countries and territories, publishing their findings this week in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. And what they found was concerning—roughly 44% of people age 15 and older living with diabetes worldwide may remain undiagnosed as of 2023.
It’s important to note that the estimates are modeled and scaled—meaning the researchers used existing survey and study data to build projections that may not perfectly reflect every population, but provide the best available global estimates. The model considered those on “current use of insulin or other hypoglycaemic medication”—which could include type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Additionally, the findings also don’t take anyone younger than 15 into consideration, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted that diabetes among children and teenagers is on the rise.
Diabetes in the United States
The U.S. fares better in terms of diagnosis than many other countries. The study found that North America has the highest rates of diagnosis, although the highest rate of treatment occurs in the high income Asia-Pacific regions.
The American Diabetes Association additionally says that 8.7 million of the 38.4 million adults with diabetes in the U.S. were undiagnosed as of 2021. That’s roughly 22.7% of Americans with diabetes who don’t know they have diabetes and aren’t being treated for it.
Who is the most at risk?
Older adults are more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes, with just 20% of people under the age of 35 living with the disease aware of their condition. Lauryn Stafford, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine, suggested this may be in part due to people only getting evaluated for diabetes once they have complications that impact their health.
One way to address this is to be aware of potential symptoms and get screened for diabetes earlier than age 35 if you have concerns.
“By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if nearly half don’t know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic,” Stafford said.
What are common symptoms of diabetes?
While diabetes can sometimes develop with no obvious signs, there are several symptoms to watch for:
- Increased and persistent thirst or hunger
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Blurry vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent fatigue or low energy
- Slow-healing cuts or frequent infections
Because these symptoms can be mild or mistaken for other health issues, many people don’t realize anything is wrong until complications begin. If you have increased risk factors for diabetes, such as family history, or high blood pressure, it’s even more important to take these symptoms seriously.
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