Prevalence of Diabetes
In recent news, a comprehensive report on diabetes has been released, shedding light on the alarming prevalence of this chronic condition in our world.
This topic of “Prevalence of Diabetes” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.
Diabetes Global Industry Overview 2023
2021 Statistics
- Seven Million Deaths Due to Diabetes: In 2021, diabetes claimed the lives of seven million individuals worldwide, highlighting its significant impact on global health.
- $970 Billion Healthcare Expenditure: The economic burden of diabetes is staggering, with healthcare expenditures related to the condition reaching a staggering $970 billion.
- 537 Million Adults Living with Diabetes: Shockingly, there are 537 million adults currently living with diabetes, with a substantial majority residing in low and middle-income countries.
- 540 Million Adults with Impaired Glucose Tolerance: Additionally, 540 million adults are grappling with impaired glucose tolerance, a condition closely linked to prediabetes.
- Undiagnosed Diabetes Levels: Globally, the average rate of undiagnosed diabetes stands at 40%. However, this figure varies significantly by region, with Africa at 60%, South-East Asia at 57%, and the Western Pacific Region at 56%.
- Reason for Undiagnosed Diabetes: Often, diabetes goes undetected unless individuals undergo routine screening exams or blood tests.
- Diagnostic Biomarkers (by World Health Organization): Key biomarkers include two-hour glucose levels and fasting glucose levels.
Medical Centers Specializing in Diabetes Treatment
- Total: 1,840 Medical Centers: There are 1,840 medical centers worldwide specializing in diabetes treatment.
- Distribution by Country:
- US: 1,466 (78% of world total)
- India: 58
- Canada: 51
- UK: 42
- Japan: 29
- Australia: 24
- Companies’ Service Analysis:
- 1,800 companies offer hospital services related to diabetes treatment.
- 45% specialize directly in diabetes treatment, while 20% focus on treating diabetes complications, and 36% have no narrow specialization.
- Services Provided:
- Diabetes treatment
- Prevention
- Screening
- Managing health and quality of life
- Residential and home care
- Rehabilitation
- Medical Centers’ Growth History:
- The number of diabetes clinics has more than doubled from 1999 to 2022, growing from 567 clinics to 1,329.
- Market saturation has been observed since 2019.
- Between 2000 and 2007, the industry experienced a “breakthrough” era, with an average of 38 new clinics opening per year.
- From 2008 to 2016, relative stability prevailed.
- However, from 2017 onward, the industry faced a decline, marked by reduced investments and a drop in new companies.
- Impact of COVID-19:
- Despite challenges, 13 new diabetes diagnostics clinics opened in 2021-2022, illustrating resilience within the sector.
Diabetes Diagnostics Companies
- Total: 530 Companies: There are a total of 530 companies worldwide specializing in diabetes diagnostics.
- Distribution by Country:
- US: 349 (65% of world total)
- UK: 21
- India: 17
- China: 11
- Australia: 11
Report by Aging Analytics Agency
Focus
- The report on diabetes is brought to us by the Aging Analytics Agency, which has a specific focus on aging, geroscience, and longevity research.
