United Kingdom: A new study has found that about 40 percent of people globally live with undiagnosed diabetes.
The 2023 diabetes global industry overview, the largest survey of its type to date, stated that most people who are not diagnosed live in Africa (60 percent), followed by southeast Asia (57 percent), and the western Pacific region (56 percent).
According to the report, half of those who are diagnosed do not receive treatment. Three in four people with the condition live in low- and middle-income countries where people cannot always access healthcare services.
Ms. Sasha Korogodski, the report’s lead researcher, commented that “more than 530 companies were found to be specialising in diabetes diagnostics around the world, but only 33 were located in Africa, southeast Asia, and the western Pacific. Limited healthcare infrastructure, including a shortage of healthcare professionals and diagnostic equipment, can impede the early diagnosis of diabetes.”
The research team analysed more than 2,800 companies, 1,500 investors, and 80 research and development hubs focused on the condition. The study concluded that the “stark disparity” in treatment “highlights the pressing need to improve access to diabetic care on a global scale”.
Ms. Caroline Mbindyo, the chief executive of Amref Health Innovations, part of the NGO Amref Health Africa, said half of all Africans do not have access to the healthcare they need. “The reality is that the time and expense to make this journey means that it isn’t even an option for many in these communities. It is impossible for them to get to these services,” Ms. Mbindyo noted.
According to the research, nearly 7 million deaths in 2021 around the world were the result of diabetes, even though more than $970 billion was spent on treatment. The report further noted that diabetes is on the rise, mainly due to the effects of the climate crisis on harvests, which have led to cheap processed food replacing more traditional food sources in diets.
“Combined with the move to more sedentary lifestyles, particularly in urban centres, this leads to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cancer,” Ms. Mbindyo added.
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