Without you even knowing? "Overlooked Diabetes" Approaches Half of the World

"Half Don't Notice" — Numbers Reveal the "Silent Pandemic"

A recent global analysis has highlighted the harsh reality surrounding diabetes worldwide. In 2023, about 44% of those living with diabetes are still unaware of their condition. They continue their daily lives without a diagnosis, quietly accumulating the risk of complications—a "hidden epidemic" spreading across countries and generations. The German media CHIP introduced this analysis, and the expression "almost one in two is undiagnosed" shocked many readers.chip.de

Challenges Seen in the "Cascade" of Care: Diagnosis → Treatment → Control

The study used data from 204 countries and regions from 2000 to 2023 to evaluate diabetes care in stages: undiagnosed/diagnosed but untreated/under treatment/under treatment but uncontrolled/under treatment and well-controlled. The rate of reaching pharmacological treatment after diagnosis appears high at about 91%, but only about 42% achieve "optimal blood sugar management." This means that overall, only about 1 in 5 people (about 21%) living with diabetes can maintain good daily blood sugar levels. Even beyond the diagnosis barrier, there is a "control barrier"—this is the current global situation.The Lancet

The Reality of Regional Differences: Where and Why Are They Overlooked?

Regional differences are also clear. While high-income countries have high diagnosis rates, high-income Asia-Pacific has a high treatment reach rate, and Southern Latin America has the best optimal management rate during treatment. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa has an exceptionally high rate of undiagnosed cases, with an estimated diagnosis rate of less than 20%. Multiple factors, including access to testing, medical personnel, medical costs, health education, and changes in urbanization and food environments, are expanding the "structural gaps" that lead to oversights.ScienceDaily

Why Don't People Notice? The Mechanism of a "Silently Progressing" Disease

Diabetes often shows no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Changes such as thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, and blurred vision are often attributed to "busyness" or "aging." Especially among younger people, there is a tendency to think "I'm fine," and they visit medical institutions less frequently, leading to delayed diagnoses. In regions with a weak culture of health check-ups, even a reverse phenomenon occurs where "complications progress while undiagnosed."The Atlanta Voice

Reactions on Social Media: Surprise, Anger, and Moving to Action

This news also created a significant stir on social media. The timeline prominently featured the following reactions.

• Surprise and anxiety over the "risk of not noticing," with comments like **"It's scary how it progresses without symptoms."**

• Social anger over **"inequality in testing opportunities" and "delayed diagnosis in young people."**

• Educational threads by doctors, pharmacists, and nutritionists explaining **"guidelines for medical visits" and "the meaning of HbA1c."**

• Experiences shared by individuals who **"were flagged during a company health check"** or **"noticed something off with a smartwatch."**

• On the other hand, misinformation such as sugar equals instant diabetes and recommendations for extreme diets also spread. This "layer of reactions" indicates the magnitude of the problem and the thirst for accurate information.
  

A Mini-Guide for "Undiagnosed Countermeasures You Can Start Today"

1) Make annual blood tests a habit: Understand "now" and "the past few months" with fasting blood sugar/HbA1c tests.
2) Be mindful of life stages: Don't be complacent even in adolescence to your 30s (family history, weight gain, lack of exercise, history of gestational diabetes, etc., require attention).
3) Learn how to read the numbers: Share "goal setting" with your doctor and monitor progress for those under treatment.
4) Use wearables as a "trigger": Irregularities in heart rate or sleep can be clues. Final judgment should be through blood tests.
5) Rely on trustworthy sources: Prioritize articles based on academic societies, public institutions, and peer-reviewed papers. Always verify the original source or citation in news.ScienceDaily

Challenges in Healthcare and Policy: Testing Systems and "Sustainable Treatment"

To overcome the "wall of undiagnosed," community-based screening and approaches to younger generations are effective. However, the "control wall" after diagnosis is deeply related to medication access, continuous visits, the cost of self-monitoring blood glucose, and lifestyle constraints such as food and work environments. In reality, even after reaching pharmacological treatment post-diagnosis, only a little over 20% globally achieve good blood sugar management.Support for medical expenses, education (diabetes care guidance), workplace considerations, and improvement of the food environment—it is essential to support areas that cannot be reduced to individual efforts through systems.ScienceDaily

The Role of Media: Making It "Visible" with Numbers and Leading to Action

CHIP's report served to translate the content of specialized journals into an understandable format for the general public. The important thing is not to end with the shocking headline of "almost half are undiagnosed," but to convey specifically what is happening at each stage of diagnosis, treatment, and control. If the media handles numbers accurately, links to the original sources, and carefully depicts regional and age differences, readers will naturally see their "next step."chip.de

How to Deal with Misinformation: Self-Defense in the Age of Social Media

• Be wary of oversimplification: Extreme statements like "stop sugar and you'll be cured" are dangerous. Medical judgments are highly individual.

• Check for authority: Verify the paper's title, society name, DOI, and research institution. Trace back to primary information like IHME or The Lancet.The Lancet

• Mutual monitoring: Instead of "attacking" misinformation, quietly sharing reliable explanations is more likely to spread.

Conclusion: Testing is an "Investment in the Future"

Diabetes worldwide is a "silent pandemic." The reality of **about 44% undiagnosed** indicates a significant distortion in the distribution of testing opportunities and medical resources. At the same time, the fact that only about 21% achieve optimal management even while under treatment clearly shows the need to enhance support after diagnosis. Start with annual blood tests, and then provide "sustainable support" involving family, workplace, and community. The numbers may be cold, but actions are warm. Our steps can prevent someone else's complications.ScienceDaily