Rise in diabetes cases. Adoption of a diabetes prevention program could change the situation

Seven years ago, endocrinologists in Kazakhstan warned that without a national diabetes prevention program, the country could have a million diabetes patients by 2030. At that time, the number of cases was about 300,000. Unfortunately, the program was never developed, and now, by the end of 2024, over 500,000 people are officially registered as diabetes patients. The actual number is closer to 800,000. This means that every day, about 100 Kazakhstanis are diagnosed with diabetes, and five people lose limbs daily—one of the most dangerous consequences of the disease.

Diabetes is not only a significant health threat but also a heavy burden on the national budget. According to the research conducted by the Kazakhstan Diabetes Society, the costs of treating diabetes have been rising each year. The state spends 45 billion tenge (approximately $90 million) annually on diabetes medications. This accounts for 27% of the total budget allocated for medicine, surpassing even the funds allocated to oncology and cardiovascular diseases, despite the high mortality rates of those conditions.

The research further revealed that 23% of diabetes prescriptions are irrational, leading to an inefficient expenditure of nearly 10 billion tenge. Another issue is that diabetes type 2 treatment is often assigned to general practitioners rather than endocrinologists, which results in treatment errors. The country has only 1,084 endocrinologists, which is insufficient for proper patient care, especially considering the long waiting times in clinics.

There is also a significant disparity in access to treatment. In some regions, like Aktobe, the cost of treating a single patient is several times lower than in Almaty, where expenses are much higher. This may indicate the use of outdated treatment methods or a lack of qualified specialists.

A similarly alarming situation exists with the provision of insulin pumps for children. Since 2011, Kazakhstan has had a pump insulin therapy program, but the exact number of devices remains unknown, with annual expenditures of around 9 billion tenge.

Diabetes is also affecting younger people in the country. About 22% of children in Kazakhstan suffer from weight issues, and the rate of diabetes among children grows by 14% annually. Poor nutrition, obesity, and excessive consumption of fast sugars are becoming the main contributing factors to the rise in diabetes.

Each year, diabetes becomes an increasingly serious threat to Kazakhstan’s healthcare system. Without adequate prevention measures and solutions to the issue of irrational spending, by 2030, healthcare expenses could exceed $2 billion, and the number of patients could reach a million.

The research conducted by the Kazakhstan Diabetes Society suggests that implementing a national diabetes prevention program could significantly change the current situation. The findings have been handed over to a parliament member for further consideration.