1 million children under 19 live with type 1 diabetes worldwide. Photo credit: Halfpoint/Shutterstock
This World Diabetes Day, the world faces a mounting health challenge: the number of adults and children living with diabetes has risen dramatically and is projected to climb further in coming decades. Globally, it is estimated that about one in nine adults currently lives with diabetes, and by 2050 the figure may rise to one in eight.
Meanwhile, over 1 million children under 19 live with type 1 diabetes worldwide, highlighting the disease’s impact across all ages. This surge places enormous pressure on health systems, economies, and the individuals affected.
In Europe as a whole, one in ten adults may be living with diabetes by 2045, while type 1 incidence in children continues to rise slightly in several countries. Even in higher‑income nations with strong health systems, prevention and control remain fragile.
Spain’s diabetes burden
Adults and children
In Spain, the condition affects roughly 14.8 % of adults aged 20‑79, meaning about 5.1 million people currently live with diabetes. The prevalence is among the highest in the EU and highlights how lifestyle, ageing, and regional health inequalities are shaping the disease’s spread.
Among children, approximately 15 000 under 15 are living with type 1 diabetes. Spanish health authorities emphasise that while type 2 diabetes in adults is largely driven by obesity, inactivity, and diet, type 1 cannot be prevented. Early detection and proper management are critical to avoid complications in children.
The UK picture
Diagnosed, undiagnosed and at‑risk populations
The UK faces its own crisis: more than 5.8 million people are living with diabetes, most diagnosed but with a significant number still undetected. Around 90 % of diagnosed cases are type 2. Further millions of adults are estimated to have pre‑diabetes, placing them at high risk of progressing to full condition.
Among children, roughly 30 000 under 19 live with type 1 diabetes. Timely diagnosis is vital to prevent life-threatening complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis. For England alone, recent data show type 2 diabetes prevalence among adults aged 16 and over at around 7.8 % (2021), underscoring how widespread the disease has become.
Why it matters
Complications, hidden cases and global burden
The human and economic cost of diabetes is enormous. Globally, four out of five adults living with diabetes reside in low‑ or middle‑income countries, and an estimated 43 % of people with the disease are undiagnosed. These hidden cases, along with children at risk of acute complications, highlight the importance of early detection.
In Spain and the UK, millions of adults and thousands of children with diabetes require healthcare systems to focus on treatment, prevention, and long-term monitoring. Even where diagnosis occurs, uptake of structured education and access to newer treatments remain uneven.
Recognising the warning signs
What individuals should look for
Early detection is vital for both adults and children. Common symptoms include increased thirst and urination, persistent fatigue, unexplained weight change, blurred vision, or slow-healing wounds. In children, additional signs can include rapid onset of symptoms, frequent infections, and mood or appetite changes.
Risk factors include being overweight, physically inactive, older age, family history of diabetes, and in the UK, membership of certain ethnic‑minority groups. Screening programmes and awareness campaigns remain essential for both adults and children.
What can people and governments do?
Awareness, prevention and innovation
On an individual level, healthy diet, regular exercise, weight control, and avoidance of smoking reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. For children and adults already diagnosed, management includes regular monitoring, structured education, and use of advances such as continuous glucose monitoring and smart insulin delivery.
At the policy level, Spain’s regional health systems and the UK’s health authorities are intensifying early detection, lifestyle-intervention services, and public-awareness campaigns for all age groups. The challenge lies in scaling these initiatives and ensuring equitable access.
Meanwhile, medical research is advancing fast. Emerging technologies such as automated insulin delivery systems, immunotherapies, and beta-cell regeneration treatments hold promise for better outcomes in both adults and children, though prevention remains the most robust strategy today.
Key take‑aways
- Globally, around 11 % of adults currently live with diabetes; over 1 million children are also affected.
- Spain: about 14.8 % of adults (≈5.1 million) and 15 000 children have diabetes.
- UK: more than 5.8 million adults and 30 000 children diagnosed; millions more at risk or undiagnosed.
- Early symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and for children, rapid onset symptoms, infections, and appetite changes.
- Prevention, early detection, lifestyle changes, and modern technologies are vital, for both adults and children.
Turning awareness into action
As World Diabetes Day highlights, diabetes is a societal challenge for all ages. Spain and the UK show how deeply the disease has spread even in developed countries. Early detection, prevention programmes, access to treatment, and research investments are crucial. Routine checks, healthier living, and vigilance about symptoms can save lives. Diabetes is preventable, diagnosable, and manageable, but only if action is taken for adults and children alike.
