Global diabetes prevalence doubles as undiagnosed cases rise in Latin America

Global diabetes prevalence among adults over 18 doubled from 7% in 1990 to 14% in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. This surge coincides with significant diagnosis gaps across the Americas, where millions of individuals remain unaware of their condition or lack sufficient medical care.

Global and regional trends

The World Health Organization reported that 830 million people were living with diabetes globally in 2022. In the Americas, 112 million adults live with diabetes, which represents 13% of the adult population in the region. A significant portion of this population faces challenges in managing the disease, as 43 million people aged 30 or older living with diabetes in the Americas do not receive adequate treatment.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 1,860,000 people aged 20 to 79 in Chile have diabetes. However, 17.1% of these individuals are undiagnosed, meaning more than 319,000 people in Chile are estimated to have diabetes without knowing it. Miriam Fuentes, an academic at the Universidad Andrés Bello School of Nursing, stated that the number of undiagnosed cases in Chile is a matter of national concern.

Health impacts in Mexico

In Mexico, approximately 14 million adults live with diabetes. Data regarding undiagnosed individuals in the country varies; while some specialists cite 4.6 million undiagnosed adults, other sources via ENSANUT suggest the number ranges from 4.6 million to 5.6 million. Furthermore, only 33% of adults with a diabetes diagnosis in Mexico maintain glycemic control, defined as an HbA1c level below 7%.

Hospitalization data in Mexico shows the scale of the crisis. Between January and September 2026, Mexico recorded 34,104 hospital admissions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Of these admissions, 52.6% were women and 47.3% were men, with a median age of 59 years. Clinical data indicates that 44.5% of hospital admissions were related to diabetes-derived events. Specifically, 3,891 cases were related to infectious processes and 3,805 were related to diabetic foot. Additionally, 59.9% of hospitalizations involved hypertension as a coexisting condition.

Prevention and diagnosis goals

Health officials emphasize that Type 2 diabetes can develop gradually over several years, often presenting with few or no perceptible symptoms. Carmen Antini, the Regional Advisor for Diabetes Prevention and Control at the Pan American Health Organization, said that many people live with Type 2 diabetes without knowing because symptoms can be mild or unnoticed. Jarbas Barbosa, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization, noted that timely action against diabetes can change the course of the disease and prevent complications.

To combat these trends, the World Health Organization has set a global goal for at least 80% of people living with diabetes to be diagnosed by 2030. Addressing these gaps requires comprehensive management, as Mariana Buss, PhD, a Medical Affairs professional at Embetca, said that diabetes education is a fundamental part of care, not just an extra step, to ensure correct treatment application.

Glossary

• HbA1c — HbA1c is a glycated hemoglobin used as a method for diagnosing diabetes. It is a test where results are more stable than fasting, though it is more costly than measuring blood glucose.
• diabetic foot — Diabetic foot refers to foot problems that can occur in people with diabetes. These problems can develop over time when high blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels in the feet.
• hypertension — Hypertension is a common problem in pregnancy known as toxemia. It can lead to serious complications and is a coexisting condition in many diabetes-related hospitalizations.
• Pan American Health Organization — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations in charge of international health cooperation in the Americas. It works to fight communicable and noncommunicable diseases and strengthen health systems.
• International Diabetes Federation — The International Diabetes Federation is an organization that works alongside other medical associations regarding diabetes guidelines. It has agreed to report HbA1c in specific units and provides recommendations for glycemic control.