Global study reveals major gaps in diabetes care targets
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Less than half of people living with type 2 diabetes meet the recommended guideline targets for blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, new international research has shown.
A global study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice involving academics from the University of Leicester has found that only 12 per cent of individuals with the condition are achieving all three targets simultaneously, despite significant advances in therapies and updated clinical guidelines.
Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands, the meta-analysis looked at the health data of 1.6 million people living with type 2 diabetes.
By analysing 63 studies published between 2006 and 2025 across North America, Europe and beyond, the researchers concluded that persistent gaps in care are leaving millions at increased risk of serious complications, including heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.
The results show that 44 per cent of participants achieved HbA1c targets, 41 per cent met blood pressure targets and 47 per cent achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets, while only 12 per cent of participants met all three targets simultaneously.
According to the experts, these findings highlight an urgent need for improved diabetes management worldwide.
Dr Ghanshyam Kacha, lead author and Primary Care Fellow at the University of Leicester, said: “Our analysis shows that progress has stalled for over 25 years.
“Despite new treatments and guidelines, most people with type 2 diabetes are not meeting key targets.”
He added: “Failing to meet these targets greatly increases the risk of serious complications, including cardiovascular problems, kidney damage and other serious health issues.
“We need a global effort to improve care and ensure patients receive the right support at the right time.”Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Director of the NIHR ARC East Midlands and the Real World Evidence Unit and Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, noted: “These findings highlight an urgent need for integrated, patient-centred care and strategies to overcome therapeutic inertia, where current treatments continue despite the need for change.
“Without decisive action, we risk worsening outcomes for millions of people living with type 2 diabetes worldwide.”
NIHR ARC East Midlands funds vital work to tackle the region’s health and care priorities by speeding up the adoption of research onto the frontline of health and social care. The organisation puts in place evidence-based innovations which seek to drive up standards of care and save time and money.
NIHR ARC East Midlands is hosted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and works in collaboration with the Health Innovation East Midlands. It has bases at the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham.