Diabetes now affects 371 million people worldwide, and 187 million of them do not even know they have the disease, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
Incidence of diabetes is rising in every country around the globe. Last year's estimate showed 366 million people had the disease. About 4 million people died from diabetes in 2011, and the death toll is expected to reach 4.8 million this year. Those younger than 60 account for half the deaths.
The figures were released today, World Diabetes Day 2012, to bring awareness to the global problem. Researchers estimate that by 2030, 552 million people will have the disease. Most of those people have type 2 diabetes, and half are unaware. In the United States, almost 26 million people have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. More than $471 billion was spent on healthcare for diabetes.
For more information on country and region specific data, go to www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/.
