Diabetes-related health expenditure in Europe reached an estimated $328.1 billion in a single year. In the United States, the age-adjusted death rate from the condition was 24.3 per 100,000 people. These figures illustrate the scale of its human and economic impact.
Key Takeaways
- Type 1 diabetes accounted for about 5–10% of all diabetes cases (of all diabetes)
- In 2021, diabetes-attributable health expenditure in Europe was estimated at $328.1 billion (IDF Diabetes Atlas estimate)
- In England, diabetes-related hospital admissions were 1.2 million in 2022–23 (NHS Digital)
- In 2022, diabetes-related admissions in England were 2.8% of all hospital admissions (NHS Digital)
- Systolic blood pressure reduction of 10 mmHg was associated with a 13% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with diabetes (meta-analysis)
- A 1% absolute reduction in HbA1c was associated with a 21% reduction in any diabetes-related end point, 14% reduction in myocardial infarction, 15% reduction in stroke, and 37% reduction in microvascular complications (UKPDS 10-year follow-up)
- In the DCCT/EDIC trial program, intensive therapy reduced risk of microvascular complications by 76% in the DCCT cohort (type 1 diabetes)
- In the US, age-adjusted death rates for diabetes were 24.3 per 100,000 population in 2021 (NCHS)
- In the US, 8.6% of adults were estimated to have diagnosed diabetes in 2019–2020, per NCHS data brief
- In 2021, diabetes was the 9th leading cause of death worldwide (Global Burden of Disease ranking), per IHME GBD
- In England, 1.0 million diabetes-related admissions were recorded in 2022–23 (hospital episodes), per NHS Digital (Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity)
- In England, there were 3.6 million diabetes-related outpatient attendances in 2022–23 (finished consultant episodes), per NHS Digital
- In the UK, 1 in 14 adults had diabetes in 2022 (diagnosed), per NHS Diabetes statistics release
- In a meta-analysis, each 1% reduction in HbA1c was associated with a 14% reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction and a 15% reduction in stroke (UKPDS follow-up summary)
- In a systematic review, diabetes increases risk of lower-extremity amputation by about 15–20 times compared with non-diabetes (reviewed estimates)
From better glucose control to newer heart saving drugs, diabetes outcomes improve as HbA1c and risks drop.
Related reading
01 · Category
Disease Types1 stats
01
Type 1 diabetes accounted for about 5–10% of all diabetes cases (of all diabetes)
Interpretation
Disease Types Interpretation
From a Disease Types perspective, Type 1 diabetes makes up only about 5 to 10 percent of all diabetes cases, highlighting that it is a relatively small share compared with other diabetes types.
02 · Category
Economic Impact3 stats
01
In 2021, diabetes-attributable health expenditure in Europe was estimated at $328.1 billion (IDF Diabetes Atlas estimate)
02
In England, diabetes-related hospital admissions were 1.2 million in 2022–23 (NHS Digital)
03
In 2022, diabetes-related admissions in England were 2.8% of all hospital admissions (NHS Digital)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In Europe, diabetes-attributable health spending reached $328.1 billion in 2021, and in England the burden remains tightly linked to costs with 1.2 million diabetes-related hospital admissions in 2022 to 23 and diabetes accounting for 2.8% of all admissions in 2022.
03 · Category
Clinical Outcomes12 stats
01
Systolic blood pressure reduction of 10 mmHg was associated with a 13% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with diabetes (meta-analysis)
02
A 1% absolute reduction in HbA1c was associated with a 21% reduction in any diabetes-related end point, 14% reduction in myocardial infarction, 15% reduction in stroke, and 37% reduction in microvascular complications (UKPDS 10-year follow-up)
03
In the DCCT/EDIC trial program, intensive therapy reduced risk of microvascular complications by 76% in the DCCT cohort (type 1 diabetes)
04
In UKPDS, every 1% fall in HbA1c was associated with a 14% reduction in risk of myocardial infarction
05
In ACCORD, intensive glucose control did not reduce the primary composite outcome but increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio 1.22 for death)
06
In ADVANCE, intensive glucose control reduced the risk of major microvascular events by 10% (relative)
07
In SUSTAIN-6, semaglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 26% (hazard ratio 0.74)
08
In LEADER, liraglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 13% (hazard ratio 0.87)
09
In EMPA-REG OUTCOME, empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death by 38% (hazard ratio 0.62)
10
In CANVAS, canagliflozin reduced the risk of the composite cardiovascular outcome by 14% (hazard ratio 0.86)
11
In DECLARE–TIMI 58, dapagliflozin reduced hospitalization for heart failure by 27% (hazard ratio 0.73)
12
In PROactive, pioglitazone reduced the secondary endpoint of all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, and stroke by 16% (hazard ratio 0.84)
Interpretation
Clinical Outcomes Interpretation
Across clinical outcomes in diabetes, smaller improvements in key measures translate into better real-world event rates, with a 1% absolute HbA1c drop linked to a 21% reduction in any diabetes-related endpoint and 10 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure tied to a 13% fewer major cardiovascular events, while intensive glucose control can be mixed as shown by ACCORD where mortality rose with a hazard ratio of 1.22.
04 · Category
Incidence And Prevalence1 stats
01
In the US, age-adjusted death rates for diabetes were 24.3 per 100,000 population in 2021 (NCHS)
Interpretation
Incidence And Prevalence Interpretation
In the United States, the age-adjusted death rate for diabetes stood at 24.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, highlighting a continuing burden relevant to incidence and prevalence trends.
05 · Category
Global Burden2 stats
01
In the US, 8.6% of adults were estimated to have diagnosed diabetes in 2019–2020, per NCHS data brief
02
In 2021, diabetes was the 9th leading cause of death worldwide (Global Burden of Disease ranking), per IHME GBD
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
Globally, diabetes is a major public health burden as shown by its rank as the 9th leading cause of death worldwide in 2021, while in the US 8.6% of adults had diagnosed diabetes in 2019 to 2020, underscoring how a widespread condition translates into substantial global harm.
More related reading
06 · Category
Healthcare Utilization3 stats
01
In England, 1.0 million diabetes-related admissions were recorded in 2022–23 (hospital episodes), per NHS Digital (Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity)
02
In England, there were 3.6 million diabetes-related outpatient attendances in 2022–23 (finished consultant episodes), per NHS Digital
03
In the UK, 1 in 14 adults had diabetes in 2022 (diagnosed), per NHS Diabetes statistics release
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
For the healthcare utilization angle, diabetes is driving substantial NHS demand in 2022 to 23 with 1.0 million diabetes-related hospital admissions and 3.6 million outpatient attendances in England, alongside 1 in 14 adults diagnosed across the UK.
07 · Category
Risk Factors & Complications7 stats
01
In a meta-analysis, each 1% reduction in HbA1c was associated with a 14% reduction in non-fatal myocardial infarction and a 15% reduction in stroke (UKPDS follow-up summary)
02
In a systematic review, diabetes increases risk of lower-extremity amputation by about 15–20 times compared with non-diabetes (reviewed estimates)
03
In a large cohort study, diabetes is associated with a 2-fold increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence compared with non-diabetes
04
In a global systematic review, the pooled prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes was 34.6% (95% CI 30.2–39.1)
05
In the UKPDS (long-term follow-up), each 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure was associated with about a 13% reduction in major cardiovascular events in people with diabetes (as reported in the follow-up publication)
06
In people with diabetes, HbA1c is strongly associated with retinopathy risk; a 1% absolute higher HbA1c corresponded to increased risk of microvascular complications in DCCT-related analyses (as summarized in peer-reviewed risk models)
07
In the UKPDS, intensive glucose control reduced the risk of microvascular complications by about 25% relative (as reported in the 10-year follow-up analysis)
Interpretation
Risk Factors & Complications Interpretation
Across key Risk Factors and Complications, tighter diabetes control and management matter because a 1% lower HbA1c links to roughly a 14% to 15% reduction in major cardiovascular events while diabetes itself multiplies risks such as lower-limb amputation by about 15 to 20 times and diabetic retinopathy affects about 34.6% of people with diabetes.
08 · Category
Treatment & Outcomes6 stats
01
In a network meta-analysis, semaglutide lowered HbA1c by ~1.2–1.9 percentage points (depending on comparator and baseline) in people with type 2 diabetes
02
In a randomized trial report, empagliflozin reduced HbA1c by about 0.6–0.7 percentage points versus placebo over 24 weeks in type 2 diabetes populations (trial results)
03
In a randomized trial report, liraglutide reduced HbA1c by about 1.0 percentage point compared with placebo at 26 weeks in type 2 diabetes (trial results)
04
In a meta-analysis, SGLT2 inhibitors reduced hospitalization for heart failure by about 23% across trials in type 2 diabetes (relative risk/HR pooled estimate)
05
In a meta-analysis, GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by about 12% in people with type 2 diabetes (pooled estimate)
06
In a UK real-world study, SGLT2 inhibitor initiation was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure versus other glucose-lowering therapies (reported adjusted HR in study)
Interpretation
Treatment & Outcomes Interpretation
Across treatment and outcomes, modern diabetes drugs are showing clinically meaningful improvements such as semaglutide lowering HbA1c by roughly 1.2 to 1.9 percentage points and SGLT2 inhibitors cutting hospitalization for heart failure by about 23%, with GLP-1 receptor agonists also reducing major cardiovascular events by around 12%.
09 · Category
Pharma & Cost1 stats
01
In the UK, metformin was the most commonly prescribed glucose-lowering medicine for people with type 2 diabetes in 2022 (proportion among prescriptions reported in NHS prescribing data)
Interpretation
Pharma & Cost Interpretation
In the UK in 2022, metformin was the most commonly prescribed glucose-lowering medicine for people with type 2 diabetes, underscoring how a widely used, likely cost effective generic option dominates under the Pharma and Cost category.
report visual · Comparison
Diabetes impacts people and health systems—and shapes cardiovascular risk
Diabetes is widespread and drives significant healthcare use, while multiple studies show meaningful reductions in cardiovascular events with better glycemic/vascular risk management.
In SUSTAIN-6, semaglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 26% (hazard ratio 0.74)26%
Systolic blood pressure reduction of 10 mmHg was associated with a 13% reduction in major cardiovascular events in peopl
13%
In the US, 8.6% of adults were estimated to have diagnosed diabetes in 2019–2020, per NCHS data brief
8.6%
In England, 1.0 million diabetes-related admissions were recorded in 2022–23 (hospital episodes), per NHS Digital (Hospi
1.0
source-verifiedcdc.gov · digital.nhs.uk · thelancet.com · nejm.org2022
Reference
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Diabetic Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diabetic-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Diabetic Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diabetic-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Diabetic Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diabetic-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+25 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)