If no urgent action is taken, the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030, says the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) 5th edition of the Diabetes Atlas released today on World Diabetes Day 2011. This equates to approximately 2 new cases every 10 seconds or almost 10 million per year. IDF also estimates that as many as 183 million people are unaware that they have diabetes.

In some of the poorest regions in the world such as Africa, where infectious diseases have traditionally been the focus of health care systems, diabetes cases are expected to increase by 90% by 2030. At least 78% of people in Africa are undiagnosed and do not know they are living with diabetes. 

Other figures released today show:

• 80% of people with diabetes live in low and middle income countries.
• 78,000 children develop type 1 diabetes every year
• the greatest number of people with diabetes are between 40-59 years of age

In the North America and Caribbean region in 2011, an estimated 37.7 million people live with diabetes and this is expected to increase by more than a third by 2030. IDF also estimates that 11.9 million people are living with diabetes in the region but are yet to be diagnosed.

The release of these figures follow the September meeting of 193 heads of state and government at the United Nation's meeting in New York to agree on a political declaration on non-communicable diseases, including diabetes.