An invisible pandemic: 20 million people in Russia live with prediabetes
About 20 million people in Russia suffer from prediabetes. This figure was announced at the X National Diabetological Congress, which is being held in Moscow from May 27 to May 30, 2025. In total, there are more than 5 million people with diabetes in the country, but if preventive measures are not taken, for example, if doctors are not more alert to this condition, their number will grow significantly, experts say. Moreover, the incidence statistics are just the tip of the iceberg: several million people already have diabetes, but they have not yet been diagnosed. About how they are currently fighting the disease and how to reduce its prevalence, see the Izvestia article.
What is the danger of prediabetes?
About 20 million people in Russia suffer from prediabetes, Marina Shestakova, Deputy Director of the National Research Institute of Endocrinology, Director of the Institute of Diabetes, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the congress. This year's theme of the congress is "Diabetes mellitus — a non—communicable pandemic of the 21st century. Macro- and microvascular complications. Issues of interdisciplinary interaction".
Prediabetes is the stage preceding type 2 diabetes: the body no longer functions normally, insulin production is reduced, blood sugar levels are elevated, but the failures are not yet critical, and the condition has not reached the levels at which diabetes is diagnosed. Prediabetes is characterized by the development of insulin resistance, which is a violation of glucose uptake. Currently, more than 1 billion people live with prediabetes in the world, Marina Shestakova noted.
— Of this billion, 488 million have a violation of glycemia (blood sugar levels. — Izvestia) on an empty stomach, 635 million have impaired glucose tolerance. After a while, without proper prevention and treatment, they will move into the cohort of people with diabetes," she warned.
More than 5 million people with diabetes mellitus live in Russia. There are 589 million people worldwide, but by 2050 this number may reach 853 million patients, the expert said.
— 592 patients with diabetes mellitus were expected in the world by 2035, but this period is still 10 years away, and we are already approaching the projected figure, — said Marina Shestakova. — It is extremely important to make a timely diagnosis and take measures for the prevention and early diagnosis of the disease.
Ivan Dedov, President of the National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, noted that a total of 12 million people with diabetes may need medical help in the country — these are "current and future generations." But he estimated the total number of people in need of treatment for endocrinological diseases, taking into account all the pathologies of the thyroid gland, at 100 million people.
On May 27, 2025, the name of Ivan Dedov was assigned to the National Research Medical Center of Endocrinology. At the congress, he noted that such a situation during his lifetime imposes a special responsibility on its owner.
"This obliges me and the staff of the center to work harder," he said.
In his welcoming address to the participants of the X National Diabetological Congress, which was delivered on May 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed: over the past years, many generations of scientists, doctors, and nurses have made a huge creative contribution to the study of a wide range of problems related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dangerous diseases, and have accumulated truly unique scientific and practical experience. We provided qualified care to tens of thousands of patients.
"It is gratifying that these ascetic traditions are worthily continued by the current staff of the center, which unites highly qualified professionals," the President of the country noted. "Of course, it is important that, in cooperation with the Russian Association of Endocrinologists, you hold annual forums, the recommendations and solutions of which contribute to the effective development of sought-after priority areas of healthcare."
Preventive measures
It is preventive work with the population that helps prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and detect type 1 diabetes in time, Tatyana Snegireva, senior lecturer at the Patrice Lumumba RUDN University, told Izvestia.
— The cause of type 2 diabetes is bad habits that lead to the development of insulin resistance. The transition to a healthy lifestyle ensures that a person will not suffer from this disease," she said.
It is necessary to improve the quality of primary health care, especially in new and border regions," said Ivan Dedov. He also said that the country lacks 2,000 adult endocrinologists and 600-700 pediatric ones.
—Endocrinology should be developed at the fundamental and clinical levels, and genetics, technology, and mathematics should be involved in this field," Ivan Dedov added.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also closely related to the environment, added Svetlana Mantsagova, chief freelance specialist, endocrinologist at the Ministry of Health of the Samara Region.
"Identifying risk factors through early lifestyle modification remains the most effective strategy for reducing disease prevalence and mortality," she stressed.
The therapy prescribed by an endocrinologist should be multi-purpose, that is, aimed at preserving organ function, improving cardiovascular prognosis, achieving intermediate targets for glycemia, blood pressure, lipids, and preventing the development and progression of complications of chronic kidney disease, Marina Shestakova emphasized.
Tatiana Snegireva noted that the prevention of diabetes is important not only for maintaining public health, but also for the country's economy.
What diseases occur with diabetes?
In 2010, diabetes mellitus was in 11th place among the leading causes of death in the world, and now it is in ninth place, Marina Shestakova recalled. This, according to her, suggests that specialists have begun to pay more attention to the disease, but still not enough. She stressed that Russian and foreign doctors are even more concerned about the growing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
"In 2022, CKD was ranked tenth among the key causes of death in the world, but by 2050, according to forecasts by leading experts, it will rise to fifth place," she said. — There are currently about 250 million patients worldwide who suffer from both diabetes and chronic kidney disease. There are more than 1 million such adults in Russia, 11.5 thousand of them have end—stage chronic kidney disease.
Failure to follow the recommendations of an endocrinologist can lead to serious complications such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, damage to the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, visual impairment, and infectious complications, Tatiana Snegireva added.
Diabetes control helps to significantly reduce the risks of these complications, the expert emphasized. According to her, regular medical examinations, proper nutrition, physical activity and following the doctor's recommendations reduce the likelihood of severe consequences.
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