Seven in ten people with diabetes (72%) only discovered they had diabetes after developing complications associated with the condition. Furthermore, almost all (94%) of the respondents experienced one or more diabetes complications throughout their lives with the disease. The results come from a global survey recently conducted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The survey was conducted among people with diabetes in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America to understand the level of awareness and the impact of diabetes-related complications.
Diabetes-related complications can be severe and, in some cases, potentially fatal. They include damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, and feet. The risk of complications causes significant stress to people with diabetes. More than half (55%) of respondents say they worry most days about developing diabetes-related complications.
The risk of complications can be significantly reduced through early detection, timely treatment, and informed self-care. When asked about preventing their complications, four in five respondents (84%) believe they could have done more; nearly two-thirds (62%) think their healthcare provider could have done more.
Commenting on the survey results, IDF President Professor Akhtar Hussain said: “More needs to be done to raise awareness about diabetes and provide education to support early detection and management of complications. What we have learned serves as a powerful reminder that diabetes often goes unnoticed until one or more complications are present. We know that with the right information and care, people with diabetes can greatly reduce their risk of complications. Additionally, there are steps that people at risk of type 2 diabetes can take to delay or completely prevent the onset of the condition. It is essential to know your risk level, understand what to look for, and know how to respond.”
There are several risk factors that increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. These include family history, weight, age, ethnicity, physical inactivity, and diabetes during pregnancy, some of which can be reduced through healthy eating habits and physical activity. Improving understanding and awareness of risk factors is therefore important to support prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment.
Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes cases, often develops silently, with symptoms going unnoticed. As a result, many people with the condition, more than 50% in some countries, are undiagnosed and, as the survey suggests, complications are already present. The most common complication experienced by survey respondents were eye problems (46%), foot issues (38%), and oral health problems (37%).