Epidemiology of chronic complications of diabetes: A global perspective

Globally, in 2021, it was reported that 537 million individuals had diabetes, with one in two adults living with diabetes, unaware that they have the condition. Diabetes-related vascular complications, which include both microvascular (diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular disease) consequences are a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes, putting a significant financial strain on the health-care system. Appropriate and sustained control of blood sugar, dyslipidemia, and blood pressure has been demonstrated in landmark studies to lower the prevalence/incidence rates of diabetes-related problems and prevent/delay their development in individuals with diabetes. Thus, early identification of diabetes, complication screening, and providing appropriate therapy at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care are all critically needed to prevent diabetes-related vascular problems at both the individual and population levels.