The Vice Chancellor for Public Health at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences described diabetes as one of the five leading causes of mortality in most countries worldwide, emphasizing that lifestyle improvement can delay the onset of diabetes by at least eleven years.
In an interview with ISNA on the occasion of National Diabetes Week (8–14 November), Dr. Fariborz Imani stated that 14 November—coinciding with 23 Aban in the Iranian calendar—has been designated as World Diabetes Day. He noted that this observance represents the largest global campaign for diabetes awareness, aiming to highlight the importance of coordinated action against diabetes as a major global public health issue.
He added that in Iran, 17–23 Aban is marked as National Diabetes Week, and this year’s slogan is “Diabetes Across All Stages of Life.”
According to Dr. Imani, the rising prevalence of diabetes in recent years has turned it into the largest epidemic in human history. In 2024, more than 588 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes, and predictions indicate that this number will surpass 852 million by 2050.
The Head of Kermanshah Provincial Health Center stated that over 40% of people with diabetes—more than 250 million individuals—are unaware of their condition, and more than 87% of undiagnosed cases live in low- or middle-income countries.
He further explained that diabetes is the fourth or fifth leading cause of death in many countries. More than 9% of all deaths among individuals aged 20–79 are attributed to diabetes, and nearly 40% of diabetes-related deaths occur between the ages of 25 and 60, which are considered productive years of life. Globally, one person dies from diabetes every 10 seconds.
Referring to national statistics, Dr. Imani said that according to the results of the eighth National Survey of Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors conducted in 2021, at least 14% of Iranians over the age of 25 have diabetes—an estimated population of more than 7.5 million. About 75% of these individuals are aware of their disease. If those with impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes) are included, the total number of diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals reaches approximately 20 million. In other words, in 2021, over 20 million Iranians aged 25 and above either had diabetes or were at risk of developing it.
He added that based on the latest survey conducted in 2021, approximately 8–10% of adults over 18 years of age in Kermanshah Province have diabetes.
Dr. Imani highlighted that diabetes leads to numerous short- and long-term complications, many of which are irreversible. Acute complications include rapid drops or increases in blood sugar levels, while long-term complications affect the cardiovascular system, brain (stroke), eyes, nervous system, and kidneys. Diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy—one of the leading causes of blindness in adults—are also among the serious complications.
Regarding prevention, Dr. Imani stressed that since overweight and obesity are major risk factors for diabetes, regular physical activity plays an important role in reducing its likelihood. He also pointed to the importance of adopting a healthy diet under the supervision of a nutrition specialist, continuous blood sugar monitoring, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.
He concluded by emphasizing that diabetes and its complications are among the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Studies have shown that improving lifestyle can delay the onset of diabetes by at least eleven years and may even prevent its development in approximately 20% of cases.