Understanding the Global Diabetes Epidemic This World Diabetes Day

On World Diabetes Day, November 14th, it is timely to discuss the emerging global epidemic of diabetes. According to the latest data from the International Diabetes Federation, 573 million adults worldwide live with diabetes. The two main types of diabetes differ significantly. Type 1 diabetes primarily affects younger individuals and necessitates insulin treatment from the point of diagnosis. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes develops more gradually as the body’s pancreatic beta cells deteriorate.

Among individuals over 65 years old, 1 in 5 will have diabetes. Governments and healthcare providers are becoming increasingly aware of diabetes's financial burden, with healthcare expenditures for adults living with diabetes accounting for 10% of total spending. This figure excludes the personal costs associated with diabetes, which can lead to complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, and feet as well as bringing an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.  Moreover, diabetes during pregnancy can impact over 21.1 million live births worldwide, representing 16.7% of all live births. 

Individuals living with diabetes should be empowered to manage their condition. People living with diabetes spend three hours per year with a healthcare professional on average. For the remaining 8,757 hours annually, they should be enabled to manage this complicated condition themselves.

Type 1 diabetes

Insulin replacement therapy is central to managing type 1 diabetes, aiming to restore normal insulin levels. This is typically done via several daily insulin injections, with dosages adjusted depending on scheduled exercise, food consumption, and blood glucose readings. Insulin delivery methods have evolved significantly, transitioning from subcutaneous injections to continuous infusion and inhaled delivery systems are being explored. Additionally, continuous glucose monitoring technologies are improving in accuracy and user-friendliness.

Type 2 diabetes

Prevention of Type 2 diabetes offers great potential. Many healthcare systems worldwide now offer programmes using diet and exercise to help people manage or reverse type 2 diabetes, especially for those with excess weight.

The Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) showed that structured weight management programmes can help put type 2 diabetes into remission.  In response, the NHS has expanded its "soup and shake" diet programme for people with type 2 diabetes, as studies show it can aid in weight loss and potentially reverse diabetes.

Over the last decade, important new treatments for type 2 diabetes have emerged.  Injectable medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonists) have shown significant effects in reducing blood sugar as well as body weight and composition. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors also help by lowering blood sugar, improving kidney health, and reducing the risk of heart failure in diabetes.  Ongoing research continues to bring new, effective treatments to clinical trials.

Diabetes Education

Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is vital for helping individuals understand and manage their diabetes. DSME aims to enhance health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes.

Healthcare professionals such as GPs, diabetes nurses, dietitians, and podiatrists often support this education, focusing on the prevention, identification, and management of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

These individuals have to be well-informed about diabetes care. They should ideally consider multi-professional courses focusing on the assessment and management of individuals with, or at risk of developing, diabetes and its precursor, metabolic syndrome. Our Master of Science / Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Care online programme accredited by The University of Warwick, focuses on obtaining a leading-edge understanding of all aspects of Diabetes Care. Our online diabetes course is designed specifically for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, offering a unique interprofessional education qualification. This programme focuses on upskilling multidisciplinary teams together to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients managing diabetes.

While most of our participants are doctors and nurses, we’re proud to have a diverse group that includes pharmacists, dietitians, and other key members of the integrated care team. This collaborative learning environment enhances understanding across specialities, empowering healthcare professionals to work together more effectively in delivering comprehensive diabetes care. You can find out more about this course here.