Diabetes continues to pose a major global health challenge, driving millions of deaths annually and escalating risks of cardiovascular, renal, and vision-related complications. Observed each November, Diabetes Awareness Month underscores the urgent need for early detection, effective management, and equitable access to care, critical measures to curb the disease’s rising prevalence, improve outcomes, and reduce long-term healthcare burdens, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Diabetes affects a large and growing share of the global population. Awareness can help focus attention and resources on prevention, timely diagnosis, and evidence-based management.

Alexandra Murdoch, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Many people with diabetes are undiagnosed, or are diagnosed late. This increases the risk of complications, but screening and risk factor recognition can lead to earlier interventions.”

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated in recent years that roughly 1 in 10 adults worldwide were living with diabetes, with projections rising to more than 700 million by 2045 without effective prevention. A substantial portion of people with diabetes are undiagnosed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 90 million adults in the US have prediabetes, many of whom are unaware of their condition.

Diabetes awareness can also contribute to improved self-management and clinical care. Devices like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are often critical to diabetes management. Real-time CGMs provide continuous alerts, while intermittently scanned CGMs provide readings upon scanning. CGMs are associated with improved glycemic control, increased time in range, fewer hypoglycemia events, and a better quality of life for many patients with diabetes.

CGM adoption has grown substantially over the last decade. In higher-income countries, CGMs are increasingly prescribed, but coverage varies by insurer and country. Use is higher among those with Type 1 diabetes rather than Type 2, but clinical adoption is expanding from Type 1 to more insulin-treated Type 2 cases and select new indications.

While CGMs are critical for certain patients and can improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes, early detection and understanding of risk factors remain important. Key risk factors include age, obesity, family history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, and more. Many guidelines recommend screening adults with risk factors and all adults at a certain age for Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes using fasting plasma glucose, A1c, or oral glucose tolerance testing.

Murdoch concludes: “Diabetes Awareness Month is a key reminder to promote early screening, lifestyle interventions, and education. Advances in medical technology, such as CGMs, are making it easier to track and manage blood sugar levels, but as we look to the future, continued efforts in awareness and education will be crucial in addressing the growing diabetes epidemic.”