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National evidence on glucose-lowering medication use for diabetes from 62 low- and middle-income countries

Given rising diabetes prevalence globally, access to diabetes treatments is gaining urgency. Yet, it remains unknown which glucose-lowering medication types people with diabetes across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) use. In this cross-sectional analysis, we pooled nationally representative...

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Main Authors: Teufel, Felix (Author) , Roddewig, Pia (Author) , Marcus, Maja E. (Author) , Theilmann, Michaela (Author) , Andall-Brereton, Glennis (Author) , Aryal, Krishna (Author) , Azadnajafabad, Sina (Author) , Bovet, Pascal (Author) , Dorobantu, Maria (Author) , Farzadfar, Farshad (Author) , Houehanou, Corine (Author) , Sibai, Abla (Author) , Stokes, Andrew C. (Author) , Labadarios, Demetre (Author) , Gurung, Mongal (Author) , Jorgensen, Jutta (Author) , Karki, Khem (Author) , Lunet, Nuno (Author) , Saeedi Moghaddam, Sahar (Author) , Mwangi, Kibachio J. (Author) , Sturua, Lela (Author) , Bärnighausen, Till (Author) , Flood, David (Author) , Geldsetzer, Pascal (Author) , Damasceno, Albertino (Author) , Davies, Justine (Author) , Vollmer, Sebastian (Author) , Ali, Mohammed K. (Author) , Manne-Goehler, Jennifer (Author) , Bulstra, Caroline (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 04 August 2025
In: Nature Communications
Year: 2025, Volume: 16, Pages: 1-8
ISSN:2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-59123-4
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59123-4
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59123-4
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Author Notes:Felix Teufel, Pia Roddewig, Maja E. Marcus, Michaela Theilmann, Glennis Andall-Brereton, Krishna Aryal, Sina Azadnajafabad, Pascal Bovet, Maria Dorobantu, Farshad Farzadfar, Corine Houehanou, Abla Sibai, Andrew C. Stokes, Demetre Labadarios, Mongal Gurung, Jutta Jorgensen, Khem Karki, Nuno Lunet, Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam, Kibachio J. Mwangi, Lela Sturua, Till Bärnighausen, David Flood, Pascal Geldsetzer, Albertino Damasceno, Justine Davies, Sebastian Vollmer, Mohammed K. Ali, Jennifer Manne-Goehler & Caroline Bulstra
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Summary:Given rising diabetes prevalence globally, access to diabetes treatments is gaining urgency. Yet, it remains unknown which glucose-lowering medication types people with diabetes across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) use. In this cross-sectional analysis, we pooled nationally representative data of 223,283 adults aged ≥25 years in 62 LMICs from 2009 to 2019. We found that 51.9% [95%-CI: 49.6%, 54.2%] of 21,715 individuals with diabetes were undiagnosed. Among individuals with diagnosed diabetes, 18.6% [95%-CI: 14.5%, 23.4%] reported using no glucose-lowering medication, 57.3% [95%-CI: 53.1%, 61.4%] only used oral medication, 19.5% [95%-CI: 17.6%, 21.5%] used oral medication and insulin, and 4.7% [95%-CI: 3.9%, 5.6%] used insulin alone. In low-income countries, fewer individuals with diabetes were diagnosed and treated than in middle-income countries. Yet, among individuals who did get diagnosed, insulin use was two-thirds higher in low-income countries (38.9% [95%-CI: 31.6%, 46.7%]) compared to middle-income countries (23.2%; 95%-CI: 21.0%, 25.5%]). This finding could suggest a need for earlier diagnosis and treatment initiation. Our results can inform national and regional drug procurement efforts across LMICs.
Item Description:Gesehen am 19.12.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-59123-4

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