Diabetes cases in Türkiye rose more than fivefold from 2000 to 2024

Türkiye’s diabetes burden has grown sharply over the past two decades, even as the country expanded health care access and coverage.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the number of adults aged 20 to 79 with diabetes rose from 1.8 million in 2000 to 9.6 million in 2024.

Studies also show that diabetes prevalence nearly doubled between 2011 and 2024, reaching 16.5% of adults.

The IDF says Türkiye has the highest diabetes prevalence and the largest number of adults with diabetes in the European region.

Use of diabetes medicines has also increased, with antidiabetic medication use up 67% between 2013 and 2023, according to OECD data cited by a health care union.

The disease burden remains largely undiagnosed: the text says 45.5% of the roughly 9.6 million patients fall into this category.

The rise is putting the sustainability of Türkiye’s health care gains to the test, but the available information does not say what action will follow.