Diabetes-related medical costs in the US reached $106.9 billion in 2022. Gestational diabetes impacted 14.8% of pregnancies in the country between 2016 and 2020.
Key Takeaways
- Gestational diabetes affected 14.8% of pregnancies in 2016–2020 in the U.S. (CDC/NIH reported national estimate)
- The percentage of pregnancies affected by diabetes (pre-existing or gestational) in Australia was 7.2% in 2018 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
- Diabetes prevalence among adults in Canada was 10.3% in 2020/21 (Public Health Agency of Canada estimate)
- In England, there were 3.2 million people known to have diabetes in 2022/23 (NHS Digital)
- Diabetes cost the U.S. healthcare system $327 billion in 2017 with $162B attributable to diagnosed and $164B to undiagnosed diabetes (ADA)
- In Australia, the estimated national cost of diabetes in 2019 was AUD 20.5 billion (AIHW)
- Type 2 diabetes patients using CGM had a 0.6% greater HbA1c reduction than those not using CGM in trials (meta-analysis, published 2021)
- Continuous glucose monitoring improved time-in-range by about 12 percentage points vs control in randomized trials (systematic review 2020)
- In the UKPDS, risk reduction for microvascular complications was 25% with intensive control (UKPDS 33; 1998)
- 6.7 million deaths were attributable to diabetes and its causes in 2021
- 14.8% of adults with diabetes in the US reported not taking recommended diabetes medications in 2021
- The global diabetes therapeutics market is forecast to reach $142.6 billion by 2030
- The global diabetes diagnostics market is forecast to reach $61.0 billion by 2030
- Diabetes reduced life expectancy by 4.0 years for people with type 1 diabetes (relative to non-diabetes populations)
- People with diabetes had a 2.1x higher risk of major cardiovascular events than people without diabetes (pooled estimate)
Diabetes affects millions worldwide, costing billions, while newer monitoring and glucose lowering treatments can meaningfully reduce risks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Epidemiology3 stats
01
Gestational diabetes affected 14.8% of pregnancies in 2016–2020 in the U.S. (CDC/NIH reported national estimate)
02
The percentage of pregnancies affected by diabetes (pre-existing or gestational) in Australia was 7.2% in 2018 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
03
Diabetes prevalence among adults in Canada was 10.3% in 2020/21 (Public Health Agency of Canada estimate)
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology perspective, diabetes in pregnancy and the overall adult population remains common across countries, with 14.8% of U.S. pregnancies affected by 2016–2020, 7.2% in Australia in 2018, and Canada showing a 10.3% adult prevalence in 2020 to 2021.
02 · Category
Healthcare Costs5 stats
01
In England, there were 3.2 million people known to have diabetes in 2022/23 (NHS Digital)
02
Diabetes cost the U.S. healthcare system $327 billion in 2017 with $162B attributable to diagnosed and $164B to undiagnosed diabetes (ADA)
03
In Australia, the estimated national cost of diabetes in 2019 was AUD 20.5 billion (AIHW)
04
In France, diabetes cost was €21.9 billion in 2019 (French public health authority report)
05
$1.4 billion global spending on diabetes care technologies (CGM/insulin pump ecosystem) reported for 2023 (industry report)
Interpretation
Healthcare Costs Interpretation
Across healthcare systems, diabetes represents massive spending, with costs reaching 3.2 million diagnosed people in England alone in 2022/23 and escalating to $327 billion in the United States in 2017, including $164 billion from undiagnosed cases, showing how early detection and treatment can meaningfully reduce the overall healthcare costs.
03 · Category
Treatments & Outcomes13 stats
01
Type 2 diabetes patients using CGM had a 0.6% greater HbA1c reduction than those not using CGM in trials (meta-analysis, published 2021)
02
Continuous glucose monitoring improved time-in-range by about 12 percentage points vs control in randomized trials (systematic review 2020)
03
In the UKPDS, risk reduction for microvascular complications was 25% with intensive control (UKPDS 33; 1998)
04
In ADVANCE, intensive blood glucose control reduced major macrovascular events by 10% and risk of nephropathy by 21% (published 2008)
05
In ACCORD, intensive glucose control did not reduce cardiovascular events and increased mortality (published 2008)
06
In EMPA-REG OUTCOME, empagliflozin reduced all-cause mortality by 32% (NEJM 2015)
07
In CANVAS, canagliflozin reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 14% (NEJM 2017)
08
In DECLARE-TIMI 58, dapagliflozin reduced hospitalization for heart failure by 27% (NEJM 2019)
09
In DAPA-HF, dapagliflozin reduced risk of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death by 26% (NEJM 2019; HF outcomes including people with diabetes)
10
In LEADER, liraglutide reduced risk of cardiovascular death by 22% (NEJM 2016)
11
In SUSTAIN-6, semaglutide reduced risk of nonfatal stroke by 39% (NEJM 2016)
12
In REWIND, dulaglutide reduced risk of major cardiovascular events by 12% (NEJM 2019)
13
In UKPDS 38, metformin reduced diabetes-related mortality by 42% in overweight patients (1998 UKPDS)
Interpretation
Treatments & Outcomes Interpretation
Across Treatments and Outcomes studies, modern diabetes care shows clear benefits such as CGM improving time in range by about 12 percentage points and the UKPDS reporting a 25% reduction in microvascular complications with intensive control, though the overall impact of intensive glucose lowering is mixed as ADVANCE cut macrovascular events by 10% while ACCORD raised mortality.
04 · Category
Disease Burden1 stats
01
6.7 million deaths were attributable to diabetes and its causes in 2021
Interpretation
Disease Burden Interpretation
In the Disease Burden category, diabetes was responsible for 6.7 million deaths in 2021, underscoring the scale of its impact on overall mortality.
More related reading
05 · Category
Market & Adoption3 stats
01
14.8% of adults with diabetes in the US reported not taking recommended diabetes medications in 2021
02
The global diabetes therapeutics market is forecast to reach $142.6 billion by 2030
03
The global diabetes diagnostics market is forecast to reach $61.0 billion by 2030
Interpretation
Market & Adoption Interpretation
With 14.8% of US adults with diabetes not taking recommended medications in 2021 and global diabetes therapeutics projected to hit $142.6 billion and diagnostics $61.0 billion by 2030, the market is clearly being driven by substantial room for improved adoption and access.
06 · Category
Care Outcomes3 stats
01
Diabetes reduced life expectancy by 4.0 years for people with type 1 diabetes (relative to non-diabetes populations)
02
People with diabetes had a 2.1x higher risk of major cardiovascular events than people without diabetes (pooled estimate)
03
In the UK, about 1 in 4 adults with diabetes have HbA1c values above target levels (≥58 mmol/mol / 7.5%)
Interpretation
Care Outcomes Interpretation
For care outcomes in diabetes, people with the condition face significantly worse results, including a 4.0 year reduction in life expectancy for type 1 diabetes, a 2.1 times higher risk of major cardiovascular events, and in the UK about 1 in 4 adults still having HbA1c above target.
07 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
In 2022, the global insulin market reached $32.2 billion in revenue
02
In 2022, the US spent $106.9 billion on diabetes-related medical costs
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the cost analysis of diabetes, global insulin revenue hit $32.2 billion in 2022 while the US alone spent $106.9 billion on diabetes-related medical costs, showing how rapidly expenses escalate even beyond the insulin market itself.
report visual · Comparison
Diabetes burden across countries
Reported diabetes burden varies by geography, ranging from pregnancy impact in Australia to adult diabetes prevalence in Canada and known cases in England.
Diabetes prevalence among adults in Canada was 10.3% in 2020/21 (Public Health Agency of Canada estimate)10.3%
The percentage of pregnancies affected by diabetes (pre-existing or gestational) in Australia was 7.2% in 2018 (Australi
7.2%
In England, there were 3.2 million people known to have diabetes in 2022/23 (NHS Digital)
3.2
source-verifiedaihw.gov.au · health-infobase.canada.ca · digital.nhs.uk2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Diabetes Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diabetes-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Diabetes Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diabetes-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Diabetes Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diabetes-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)