Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. A common consequence of uncontrolled diabetes is hyperglycemia, or elevated levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, which over time leads to severe damage to many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels.

In 2022, 14% of adults aged 18 and older had diabetes, up 7% from 1990. That same year, more than half (59%) of adults aged 30 and older living with diabetes did not took medications to control their disease. The lowest diabetes treatment coverage was observed in low- and middle-income countries.