Improving diabetes prevention and management amidst varied resources: from local implementation to global learnings

Abstract

Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen even more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income countries (HICs). Globally, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016 [1]. It is estimated that four out of five people with diabetes now live in LMICs and the top two LMICs with the largest number of people with Type 2 diabetes are China (114 million) and India (72.9 million) [2]. In addition, 43% of all deaths attributable to diabetes occur prematurely before the age of 70 years, with the majority of them occurring in LMICs. Diabetes and its complications contribute to a significant economic loss to people with diabetes, their families, health systems, and national economies. It is estimated that the global losses in GDP due to diabetes during 2011–2030, including both the direct and indirect costs, total more than US$1.7 trillion, comprising US$900 billion for HICs and US$800 billion for LMICs [3]. With a growing burden of Type 2 Diabetes in LMICs, these costs will continue to increase in the coming decades.