Diabetes in 2025

As suggested by the title, our topic is diabetes. What is the prevalence of diabetes worldwide and in Türkiye according to the most recent data? What can be done to prevent diabetes? And how should nutrition be managed if someone has diabetes? I’ll share the answers with you here.

Global Diabetes Statistics (2025)

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 2025:

• Approximately 589 million adults (ages 20–79) are living with diabetes worldwide — that equals about 1 in every 9 adults.

• About 252 million of these adults remain undiagnosed, meaning they are unaware they have the disease.

• Diabetes contributes to millions of deaths each year and continues to be a major global health burden.

These figures show that diabetes continues to rise and remains a leading chronic disease globally.

Diabetes in Türkiye (2025)

The latest IDF 2025 estimates indicate:

• In Türkiye, around 9.6 million adults aged 20–79 are living with diabetes.

• This means roughly 1 in every 6 adults in this age group has diabetes — the highest adult diabetes prevalence in Europe.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease and mainly occurs in two types:

• Type 1 Diabetes: Often begins in childhood or young adulthood. It causes little to no insulin production, so insulin must be administered externally. Symptoms can include rapid weight loss, excessive thirst, and frequent urination.

• Type 2 Diabetes: More common in adults, where the body initially produces insulin but becomes less effective over time. Risk factors include obesity, family history of diabetes, and poor diet.

Both types require medical care, but nutrition therapy is also a primary part of diabetes management.

Nutrition in Diabetes

The main goals of nutrition therapy in diabetes are to help maintain blood sugar levels close to normal and support long-term health. To prevent large fluctuations in blood sugar, meals should be structured into three main meals and three snacks throughout the day.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide daily energy and raise blood glucose levels. They are converted into glucose in the intestines. Choosing the right type of carbohydrate is crucial for blood sugar control.

Recommended carbohydrate sources:

• Whole grain breads, bulgur, brown rice or whole-grain pasta

• Fresh fruits

• Dairy and dairy products

These foods release sugar into the bloodstream more steadily. About 55–60% of daily energy should come from carbohydrates.

Foods to avoid:

• Refined flour products, table sugar, sweets, desserts, and packaged foods with added sugar.

Protein

Protein is necessary for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues. Diabetes does not change the need for protein. About 12–15% of daily energy should come from protein sources.

Fat

Fats are energy-dense foods. Prefer fats rich in unsaturated fatty acids, such as:

• Olive oil

• Canola oil

• Nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, etc.)

A small daily portion of nuts can be included for cardiovascular health. About 25–30% of daily energy should come from fats.

General Recommendations

• Eat balanced and nutritious meals consistently.

• If overweight, aim for a healthy weight.

• Do not skip meals.

• Do not adjust insulin or medication doses without your doctor’s guidance.

• Avoid thinking “I’ll eat sweets and then take extra insulin to balance it” — this is not safe.

• Exercise regularly.

• Always follow regular medical and dietitian check-ups.

Stay healthy!