770,000 people in Bulgaria live with diabetes, 50% of them don't know they have it

According to the International Diabetes Federation, since 2021, over 235,000 people in Bulgaria have pre-diabetes type 1, with 80% of them unaware that their blood sugar level is higher than normal and that they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is a serious health condition that can lead to cardiovascular and kidney problems. This alarming statistic was discussed at a press conference organised by the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology on the occasion of the upcoming World Diabetes Day.

Special guests of the press conference were Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Borisova, MD, PhD - President of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology, Head of the Endocrinology Clinic, SofiaMed University Hospital and Prof. Dr. Mikhail Boyanov, MD, PhD - Endocrinology Clinic, Alexandrovska University Hospital.

"Prediabetes often goes unnoticed as the symptoms are vague or absent. However, the metabolic changes that occur put people at serious risk of progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus," noted Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Borisova, long-time President of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology.

"Early diagnosis is essential because it enables measures to be taken that can prevent or delay the development of diabetes. For people with prediabetes it is crucial to change their lifestyle - a healthy diet and regular physical activity can have a significant effect on improving the metabolic profile."

They informed the audience about the risk factors that lead to the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and how these conditions affect our health. The experts also presented statistics on the disease in the country and around the world, and discussed the importance of prevention and prevention of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Professor Anna-Maria Borisova presented the development of the diabetes mellitus epidemic in the world and in our country for the last 18 years. In the world, the incidence of diabetes is increasing by 218% according to the population - from 246 million diabetics in 2007 to 537 million in 2021 adult population (aged between 20 and 79).

For Bulgaria the increase is 199%:

• from 487 000 in 2006 to 770 000 in 2024.
• Half of diabetics are undiagnosed and considered "healthy". In the youngest age group (20-29 years) there were no diabetics in 2006 and in 2024 there are 1.5% in this age group.
• Today, one in three over the age of 60 has diabetes.
• Prediabetes is three times more common than diabetes and is considered its major risk factor.
• Half of people with prediabetes become diabetic after 5 years, according to a prospective study of a Bulgarian population.