More than 24 million adults aged 20 to 79 are living with diabetes in Africa, a number expected to rise to 60 million by 2050, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
About half of these cases—around 12 million people—remain undiagnosed, silently facing risks of severe complications, disability, and early death.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this during a statement to mark World Diabetes Day 2025 in Abuja.
He said the rising burden of diabetes in Africa is driven by changing lifestyles, increased overweight and obesity, and limited access to preventive and primary healthcare services.
Dr Janabi warned that if unaddressed, diabetes could damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves, overwhelming health systems, straining economies, and reversing development gains.
He urged countries to strengthen health systems, ensure continuous care from prevention to life-long treatment, and integrate diabetes services into primary health care.
He noted that frameworks like WHO PEN and PEN-Plus are already operational in several African countries, improving access to quality care.
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