The Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control of Type 2 Diabetes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The burden of diabetes is rising rapidly, with the largest increases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While most people with diabetes globally live in LMICs, high-quality data on diabetes prevalence, risk factors, complications, and mortality are scarce in these settings. Widespread challenges around health care financing, workforce capacity, and access to essential medicines and diagnostics compromise the reach and effectiveness of services for diabetes prevention and management in many countries. As a result, nearly half of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and a large share of those who are diagnosed do not achieve targets for glycemic control and prevention of complications. Targeted efforts are needed to close the research and implementation gaps between LMICs and high-income countries, with emphasis on improving disease surveillance, expanding access to essential medicines and diagnostics, and advancing implementation strategies to scale up and sustain evidence-based interventions.