Diabetes is an important public health concern in the world and has been described as a “silent pandemic”.

In Albania, the number of patients with type 2 diabetes is increasing every year.

A study by the Institute of Public Health has shown that diabetes rates have doubled in a decade, from 2011 to 2021.

According to official data, in 2021, 88,866 people were registered with diabetes at the family doctor, compared to 45,606 in 2011.

About 90% of patients have type 2 diabetes, which appears mainly in adulthood and is influenced by lifestyle, while the rest have type 1 diabetes.

Experts estimate that an average of 7,500 new cases are diagnosed each year. During 2021, the incidence of diabetes has undergone a significant increase, especially in the regions of Fier, Tirana and Vlora.

Another observation is that men have a higher incidence of diabetes than women. Factors driving this increase include urbanization, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney damage, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents and lower limb amputation, emphasizing the importance of awareness and preventive measures.