Facts and Figures

  • There were an estimated 143 million women with diabetes in 2010. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to 222 million.
  • Women make up approximately 50% of the 300 million people currently living with diabetes.
  • Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year. The majority of these occur in low and middle income countries.
  • Two out of every five women with diabetes are of reproductive age, accounting for over 60 million women worldwide.
  • The greatest increase in the female diabetes population over the next 20 years will be in the Middle East and North Africa Region (96%), followed by the Africa Region (90.4%) and South East Asia (74.4%).
  • Gestational diabetes (GDM) is any glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy, and develops in one in 25 pregnancies worldwide.
  • Without pre-conception planning, type 1 and type 2 diabetes can result in a significantly higher risk of maternal and child mortality and morbidity during pregnancy. The reported incidence of maternal mortality of pregnant type 1 diabetic women is 5–20 times higher than that of women without diabetes.
  • Diabetes may already be a leading cause of high risk pregnancies in some countries, and yet is a neglected maternal health issue.