Diabetes is on the rise. No longer a disease of predominantly rich nations, the prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing everywhere, most markedly in the world’s middle-income countries.
Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General WHO
The highest absolute number of adults (18+ years) living with diabetes can be found in China, followed by India, the United States of America, Brazil and Mexico. Indonesia, Russia, Germany, Egypt and Japan complete the top 10. When it comes to per cent of the population, the population of the small Pacific island lives in the highest danger of Diabetes: Marshall Islands (31% of the adult population), Tuvalu (27%) and Niue (24%) lead here. Saudia Arabia is the first non Island state on place 11 with just above 18%. The first European country is Malta with 13%. The European country with the lowest prevalence is Greenland (2.5%), followed by Ireland (4%) and Lithuania (5.5%). Among the five countries with the highest absolute number of adults with Diabetes, Mexico has the highest prevalence (14%), followed by the United States (13%), China (11%), Brazil (9%) and India 8%).
The highest expenditure per patient with Diabetes is spent in Norway (~13.000 USD per year), followed by Switzerland (~12.500 USD), United States of America (~12.000 USD), Luxembourg (11.000) and Monaco (10.000 USD). The lowest mean expenditure can be found in Madagascar (27 USD), followed by Central African Republic (29 USD) and Myanmar (35%). The United States of America has the highest total expenditure (just below 3 billion USD), followed by China, Japan, Germany and France.
According to the Diabetes Atlas: “The North America and Caribbean Region has the highest regional prevalence of diabetes (15.4%). In this region, 1 in 8 adults has diabetes.Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes is associated with higher levels of urbanisation, ageing populations, and more sedentary lifestyles, including obesity, insufficient physical activity and a higher intake of unhealthy foods. The causes of the increased incidence of type 1 diabetes are not clear. Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes is associated with higher levels of urbanisation, ageing populations, more sedentary lifestyles, including obesity, insufficient physical activity and a higher intake of unhealthy foods. The causes of the increased incidence of type 1 diabetes are not clear.”
