Access to care, a factor in the increase in the rate of diabetes in Africa

The rate of diabetes worldwide has doubled over the past 30 years.

According to a new study published by the British academic journal The Lancet, some 800 million adults worldwide have diabetes.

The increase in these cases has been greatest in developing countries, where access to appropriate care can be difficult, especially for low-income populations.

The report shows that while diabetes has declined in some countries, such as Japan, Canada, France and Denmark, it has continued to increase in developing countries.

The treatment gap is also widening, according to the report. About three in five adults with diabetes, or some 445 million people, did not receive treatment for the disease in 2022. About a third of this group comes from India. In sub-Saharan Africa, only 5-10% of adults with diabetes have received treatment.

Most of these people are undiagnosed. Access to a doctor would allow prevention and diagnosis and the cost of medicines would increase the number of people treated.