The fourth edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas

The 4th edition of the Diabetes Atlas was officially released at the 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montreal in October 2009. The Atlas is the most up-to-date global report on diabetes, covering all aspects of the disease from epidemiology to health economics and education.

The estimated diabetes prevalence for 2010 worldwide is 285 million people corresponding to 6.4% of the world’s adult population. By 2030, the number of people with diabetes is estimated to have risen to 438 million. Far the highest increases in prevalence will happen in developing countries and this only confirms that diabetes is a disease associated with poverty. The major burden of the disease is borne by the low- and middle-income countries and it disproportionately affects the lower socio-economic groups, the disadvantaged and the minorities in the richer countries.

The World Economic Forum 2009 Global Risks Landscape assessment report identified chronic diseases as one of the most significant risks facing the global economies, exceeded only by the risks posed by sudden oil/gas price rises, retrenchment from globalization, asset price collapse and a slowing of the Chinese economy. This merely emphasises the need for further action.

The Diabetes Atlas will be used by the World Diabetes Foundation, the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization to communicate the global impact of diabetes and underline the need for immediate intervention from governments, healthcare professionals, international health organisations and other bodies.

The Diabetes Atlas is a unique resource on diabetes for a wide range of audiences including decision-makers, public health authorities, health organizations, healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, and media. It covers a wide spectrum of topics, from epidemiology to economics.

The Diabetes Atlas is available in English, French and Spanish at IDF the website.