Diabetes was once considered a disease affecting people over the age of 50, but today it no longer has an age limit. Its widespread occurrence among younger age groups has reached alarming levels in Elbasan.

According to doctors, over 50 percent of people living with diabetes are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes silently damages other vital organs as well, becoming a serious threat to the population’s health.

While there were only 20–30 cases of diabetes before the 1990s, today the Elbasan Region counts up to 600 affected individuals. Medical data show a sharp increase in the disease, while a large number of patients remain undiagnosed. Health specialists warn that diabetes is appearing at increasingly younger ages and are calling for early screening, especially among high-risk groups.

Endocrinologist Shefqet Deliallisi says that by 2050, there are projections of around 1.3 billion people worldwide living with diabetes.

“Based on studies conducted before the 1990s in the Elbasan Region, we had 20–30 cases of diabetes, whereas today this number has reached 400–500, even up to 600 cases. This represents a major health challenge, not only for Albania but for global healthcare.

There is a paradox when it comes to diabetes: while discoveries are being made and medications are being developed to treat it, the diabetes epidemic continues to grow rapidly. It is projected that by 2050 there will be about 1.3 billion people with diabetes,” he said.

Doctors emphasize that the greatest danger of diabetes is not only the disease itself, but the complications it causes in vital organs. Another serious issue remains undiagnosed diabetes, as many people live with the disease without knowing it.

“The real burden of diabetes lies in the complications it causes to the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys. These are severe conditions that not only shorten life expectancy but also lead to high levels of disability. This is one of the biggest health problems of the century we are living in. The primary issue is undiagnosed diabetes. About 50 percent of people with diabetes are unaware they have the disease. A few years ago, I screened around 2,000 people in the Elbasan Region, and it turned out that 70 percent of them did not know they had diabetes,” he added.

Doctors are also raising the alarm about the declining age of diabetes onset, particularly type 2 diabetes, which is now increasingly found among young people. According to them, prevention must begin early through screening and health education.

“The age at which diabetes appears has dropped significantly. Today, type 2 diabetes is found even among people in their 30s, whereas it was previously considered a disease affecting those over 45. It is very important to screen for diabetes earlier, especially among people under 40 and those who are obese,” the doctor emphasized.

Specialists stress that education on physical activity and healthy nutrition, especially among children, remains the key to slowing the spread of diabetes. Early detection and monitoring of high-risk groups are considered essential to preventing the severe consequences of the disease.