BACKGROUND

No detailed quantitative global, regional, or national estimates of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are available.

METHODS

We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017 to estimate the global, regional, and national incidence rates and DALYs of T2DM, as well as the associated risk factors, in all 194 countries and territories by age, sex, and sociodemographic status during the period from 2007 to 2017.

RESULTS

Globally, the age-standardized incidence and DALY rates increased by 3.23% and 5.07% during 2007 to 2017, respectively. The age-standardized incidence and DALY rates in 2017 and the corresponding percentage changes during 2007 to 2017 were highest in the low-middle sociodemographic index (SDI) quintile. Regionally, the highest 2017 age-standardized incidence and DALY rates were observed in Oceania, whereas the largest percentage increases in both rates during 2007 to 2017 were observed in Southeast Asia. Nationally, Iran, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia reported the largest percentage increases in the age-standardized incidence rates, whereas Georgia, Czech Republic, and Iran showed the largest percentage increases in the age-standardized DALY rates. Globally, the largest percentage increases in risk-attributable DALYs were associated with a high body mass index, low physical activity level, high fasting plasma glucose level, and high sugar-sweetened beverage and red meat consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

The global T2DM age-standardized incidence and DALY rates increased globally between 2007 and 2017, especially in the low-middle SDI quintile, Southeast Asia.