Diabetes Awareness: What You Need To Know

Diabetes

This article is about the common insulin disorder. For the urine hyper-production disorder, see Diabetes insipidus. For other uses, see Diabetes (disambiguation).

Diabetes mellitus, often known simply as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels.[10][11] Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to the hormone's effects.[12] Classic symptoms include thirst, polyuria, weight loss, and blurred vision. If left untreated, the disease can lead to various health complications, including disorders of the cardiovascular systemeyekidney, and nerves.[3] Diabetes accounts for approximately 4.2 million deaths every year,[9] with an estimated 1.5 million caused by either untreated or poorly treated diabetes.[10]

The major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.[13] The most common treatment for type 1 is insulin replacement therapy (insulin injections), while anti-diabetic medications (such as metformin and semaglutide) and lifestyle modifications can be used to manage type 2. Gestational diabetes, a form that arises during pregnancy in some women, normally resolves shortly after delivery.

As of 2021, an estimated 537 million people had diabetes worldwide accounting for 10.5% of the adult population, with type 2 making up about 90% of all cases. The World Health Organization has reported that diabetes was "among the top 10 causes of death in 2021, following a significant percentage increase of 95% since 2000."[14] It is estimated that by 2045, approximately 783 million adults, or 1 in 8, will be living with diabetes, representing a 46% increase from the current figures.[15] The prevalence of the disease continues to increase, most dramatically in low- and middle-income nations.[16] Rates are similar in women and men, with diabetes being the seventh leading cause of death globally.[17][18] The global expenditure on diabetes-related healthcare is an estimated US$760 billion a year.[19]