One in every nine adults worldwide lives with diabetes, and over forty percent of those individuals remain undiagnosed, according to the International Diabetes Federation Atlas reported by El Tiempo.
Ad portas del Día Mundial de la Diabetes, Cristina Bohórquez Moreno, a nursing doctor, researcher, and professor at the Faculty of Life Sciences and Wellbeing at the University of La Sabana, explained the primary characteristics of the disease, its warning signs, and the ongoing challenges in diagnosis, education, and care, El Tiempo reported.
The global health burden spans multiple metabolic pathways and continues to drive high mortality rates, with approximately 3.4 million adult deaths recorded in 2024 from the condition and its related complications.
In Colombia, the high-cost account registry documented 2’597.719 cases of diabetes nationwide as of August 31, 2025, El Tiempo reported. Meanwhile, in Mexico, records from the ENSANUT Continua survey framework cited by Vértigo Político and La Crónica de Hoy place the country among the nations with the highest prevalence of diabetes globally.
- Silent Progression: Type 2 diabetes accounts for over ninety percent of all cases and can advance quietly for years without presenting obvious symptoms, requiring routine screening tests starting at age thirty-five or earlier for high-risk individuals.
- Mechanisms and Types: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body stops producing insulin entirely, whereas Type 2 involves insulin resistance linked to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
- Critical Emergencies: Symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, deep rapid breathing, and fruit-scented breath indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication requiring immediate emergency medical evaluation.
Diabetes Prevalence Rises Globally and in Mexico
The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 currently live with diabetes worldwide, a figure projected to reach 853 million by 2050, according to data cited by La Crónica de Hoy. Mexico currently ranks seventh globally in adult diabetes prevalence, with 14.1 million cases, and projections suggest that total will rise to 19.9 million in the coming decades.
The Mexican Social Security Institute allocated over 80 mil 700 millones de pesos during 2025 for diabetes and chronic kidney disease care, according to Uniradio Informa. Civil society organizations note that approximately 44 billion pesos went toward treating 4.1 million diabetes patients, while 36 mil 700 millones de pesos addressed renal complications.
| Metric | Data Point | Source / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Global Adult Prevalence | 1 in 9 adults (20–79 years) | International Diabetes Federation Atlas |
| Undiagnosed Proportion | Over 40% globally | International Diabetes Federation Atlas |
| National Cases (Colombia) | 2’597.719 cases | Cuenta de Alto Costo (August 2025) |
| National Prevalence (Mexico) | 17% total adult prevalence | ENSANUT Continua |
Reflecting on the importance of early intervention, Mariana Buss, a professional in Medical Affairs at embecta Latinoamérica, emphasized that treatment administration requires comprehensive guidance. “No basta con indicar un tratamiento: las personas necesitan aprender a utilizarlo correctamente y contar con acompañamiento para resolver sus dudas desde el principio,” Buss told Vértigo Político, adding that education remains a fundamental pillar of chronic disease management.
Contraindications and When to Consult a Doctor
Patients diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes must maintain continuous exogenous insulin administration, as cessation leads rapidly to acute metabolic decompensation. Individuals utilizing insulin therapy must receive professional training regarding proper injection technique, site rotation, and blood glucose monitoring to avoid localized tissue complications such as lipohypertrophy.
Emergency medical attention is strictly required if a patient displays acute manifestations of ketoacidosis, including persistent vomiting, altered mental status, or rapid respiration.
References
- IDF Diabetes Atlas.
- Cuenta de Alto Costo. Bogota, Colombia.
- Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición Continua. Mexico.
- Global Diabetes Report.
