Global Type 1 Diabetes Expected to Rise 29%

Global projections presented at the EASD meeting indicate that worldwide type 1 diabetes cases will rise by 29% from 9.4 million in 2025 to 12.1 million in 2049, with new cases per year increasing by about 14% over the same period. The growth is expected to be most pronounced in high-income countries, where prevalence could climb sharply, such as the UK, USA and Italy, driven by genetics, environmental triggers and high case-detection rates. In low-income countries like Tanzania, annual new cases are forecast to double, but total cases remain relatively small compared with high-income nations. Researchers emphasize that while incidence and prevalence rise, the rate of new cases may remain similar in some regions due to healthcare access differences. Separately, a US study finds that youth-onset type 2 diabetes has surged nearly tenfold since 2002–2023, outpacing type 1 diabetes in older teenagers and signaling a shifting landscape in pediatric diabetes management. Experts urge monitoring of these trends to inform public health responses and healthcare planning in both high- and low-income settings.