Type 2 diabetes is carrying a growing burden of comorbidities across the seven major markets (7MM*), with hypertension emerging as the most prevalent diagnosed condition among patients with the disease. Higher BMI, sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and aging populations are intensifying this burden, highlighting the need for more comprehensive disease management and prevention strategies, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Type 2 Diabetes (T2D): Epidemiology Forecast to 2035,” reveals that the burden of diagnosed prevalent cases of type 2 diabetes in the 7MM is expected to increase at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 1.2% from 54.5 million in 2025 to 61.2 million cases in 2035.

The US will have the highest number of diagnosed prevalent cases across the 7MM with just under 29.6 million cases in 2035. Japan and the 5EU** are estimated to have approximately 8.6 million and 22.9 million diagnosed prevalent cases in 2035, respectively.

A higher BMI is a key risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes. According to GlobalData epidemiologists, both Germany and the US had higher prevalence rates. This could in part be attributed to lifestyle factors.

Judith Visser, Epidemiologist at GlobalData, comments: “The high prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes in Germany and the US may be explained by both markets having high rates of obesity and aging populations.”

BMI tends to be higher in developed countries. More specifically, BMI tends to be higher both in Western Europe and the US due to diets high in processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and the prevalence of desk jobs. Additionally, aging populations play a large role in the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

GlobalData epidemiologists also observed that, though comorbidity prevalence varied across the markets, hypertension made up most diagnosed prevalent cases with a diagnosed comorbidity. The highest proportion of comorbid hypertension was observed in Germany.

Visser concludes: “Hypertension is a common comorbidity worldwide, as it is associated with a higher BMI, lower physical activity levels, and a poor diet. The high comorbidity burden in patients with type 2 diabetes shows the importance of proper disease management.”

*7MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan.

**5EU: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK.