Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a substantial strain on global healthcare systems. This study seeks to offer robust scientific evidence for the effective prevention and management of T2DM globally through a comprehensive analysis of the disease’s burden, trends, and risk factors f...

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Main Authors: Qian Huang, Yang Li, Minggang Yu, Zhizi Lv, Fengyi Lu, Ning Xu, Qingqing Zhang, Jiayun Shen, Jinfeng Zhu, Hua Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1538143/full
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author Qian Huang
Qian Huang
Yang Li
Yang Li
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Fengyi Lu
Fengyi Lu
Ning Xu
Ning Xu
Qingqing Zhang
Qingqing Zhang
Jiayun Shen
Jiayun Shen
Jinfeng Zhu
Hua Jiang
Hua Jiang
author_facet Qian Huang
Qian Huang
Yang Li
Yang Li
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Fengyi Lu
Fengyi Lu
Ning Xu
Ning Xu
Qingqing Zhang
Qingqing Zhang
Jiayun Shen
Jiayun Shen
Jinfeng Zhu
Hua Jiang
Hua Jiang
author_sort Qian Huang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a substantial strain on global healthcare systems. This study seeks to offer robust scientific evidence for the effective prevention and management of T2DM globally through a comprehensive analysis of the disease’s burden, trends, and risk factors from 1990 to 2021, as well as future trajectories from 2022 to 2050.MethodsData for this study were sourced from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. T2DM burden was assessed through incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), stratified by age, sex, sociodemographic index (SDI), 21 GBD regions, and 204 countries/territories. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were quantified by estimating annual percentage changes. Decomposition analysis identified the primary population-level drivers of T2DM burden changes. The population attributable fraction assessed the contribution of risk factors to the T2DM burden over the past 30 years, while the Bayesian age–period–cohort model was employed to predict the future burden driven by risk factors.ResultsIn 2021, T2DM affected 506.0 million individuals, with 23.9 million new cases, 1.6 million deaths, and 75.3 million DALYs. Between 1990 and 2021, both absolute and relative burdens of T2DM increased, particularly among males, older adults, and individuals under 40. Regions with higher SDI generally exhibited higher age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates, while those with lower SDI had elevated age-standardized mortality and DALY rates. Oceania stood out as an exception, with the highest relative burdens across all four indicators, most notably in the Marshall Islands and Fiji. The increases in incidence, DALYs, and prevalence were predominantly driven by population growth and epidemiological shifts, with aging contributing significantly to the rise in mortality. Elevated fasting plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), and particulate pollution were major contributors to higher T2DM-related mortality and DALY rates. By 2050, high BMI, alcohol consumption, and sugary beverages are anticipated to increasingly influence the T2DM burden.ConclusionFocused, preventive interventions targeting key risk factors in high-burden groups can effectively reduce the global T2DM burden.
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spelling doaj-art-9547db9f9c964fe58d97c5ea91e089682025-08-20T03:02:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-08-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15381431538143Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050Qian Huang0Qian Huang1Yang Li2Yang Li3Minggang Yu4Minggang Yu5Minggang Yu6Zhizi Lv7Zhizi Lv8Zhizi Lv9Fengyi Lu10Fengyi Lu11Ning Xu12Ning Xu13Qingqing Zhang14Qingqing Zhang15Jiayun Shen16Jiayun Shen17Jinfeng Zhu18Hua Jiang19Hua Jiang20Department of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Xietu Subdistrict Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Oriental Clinical College, Nanjing Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, ChinaDepartment of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a substantial strain on global healthcare systems. This study seeks to offer robust scientific evidence for the effective prevention and management of T2DM globally through a comprehensive analysis of the disease’s burden, trends, and risk factors from 1990 to 2021, as well as future trajectories from 2022 to 2050.MethodsData for this study were sourced from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. T2DM burden was assessed through incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), stratified by age, sex, sociodemographic index (SDI), 21 GBD regions, and 204 countries/territories. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were quantified by estimating annual percentage changes. Decomposition analysis identified the primary population-level drivers of T2DM burden changes. The population attributable fraction assessed the contribution of risk factors to the T2DM burden over the past 30 years, while the Bayesian age–period–cohort model was employed to predict the future burden driven by risk factors.ResultsIn 2021, T2DM affected 506.0 million individuals, with 23.9 million new cases, 1.6 million deaths, and 75.3 million DALYs. Between 1990 and 2021, both absolute and relative burdens of T2DM increased, particularly among males, older adults, and individuals under 40. Regions with higher SDI generally exhibited higher age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates, while those with lower SDI had elevated age-standardized mortality and DALY rates. Oceania stood out as an exception, with the highest relative burdens across all four indicators, most notably in the Marshall Islands and Fiji. The increases in incidence, DALYs, and prevalence were predominantly driven by population growth and epidemiological shifts, with aging contributing significantly to the rise in mortality. Elevated fasting plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), and particulate pollution were major contributors to higher T2DM-related mortality and DALY rates. By 2050, high BMI, alcohol consumption, and sugary beverages are anticipated to increasingly influence the T2DM burden.ConclusionFocused, preventive interventions targeting key risk factors in high-burden groups can effectively reduce the global T2DM burden.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1538143/fullglobal burdentype 2 diabetes mellitustrend analysisdecomposition analysisrisk factorforecast
spellingShingle Qian Huang
Qian Huang
Yang Li
Yang Li
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Minggang Yu
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Zhizi Lv
Fengyi Lu
Fengyi Lu
Ning Xu
Ning Xu
Qingqing Zhang
Qingqing Zhang
Jiayun Shen
Jiayun Shen
Jinfeng Zhu
Hua Jiang
Hua Jiang
Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
Frontiers in Endocrinology
global burden
type 2 diabetes mellitus
trend analysis
decomposition analysis
risk factor
forecast
title Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
title_full Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
title_fullStr Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
title_full_unstemmed Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
title_short Global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021, with forecasts to 2050
title_sort global burden and risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021 with forecasts to 2050
topic global burden
type 2 diabetes mellitus
trend analysis
decomposition analysis
risk factor
forecast
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1538143/full
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