Milmedika

Diabetes is steadily increasing worldwide, and unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue in the coming decades. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of adults with diabetes is projected to rise by more than 50% globally by 2045, while Europe is expected to see a 15% increase.

The situation in Montenegro

In Montenegro, over 29,700 adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to data from the National Diabetes Registry (IJZCG) and health records from primary care centers. The national prevalence rate is approximately 11%, while an estimated 20,000 adults have undiagnosed diabetes. In other words, one in nine adults in Montenegro has diabetes, and one in three cases remains undiagnosed.

Risks among the working-age population

Working-age individuals face a significant risk of developing diabetes and its complications. Among newly diagnosed cases, 60% are under the age of 65. Additionally, 9% of diagnosed individuals experience complications, with half of them being younger than 65.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes

An unhealthy lifestyle, physical inactivity, and excessive weight gain—especially abdominal obesity—are key risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Among adults with diabetes in Montenegro, 95% have type 2 diabetes. Additionally, 40% of patients are physically inactive, 80% are overweight, and 70% have developed abdominal obesity.

Diabetes in children and young adults

Each year, between 30 and 40 individuals under the age of 20 are diagnosed with diabetes in Montenegro. Among those over 15, cases of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes are recorded. However, children under 14 almost exclusively develop type 1 diabetes, with 20 to 30 new cases diagnosed annually.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes can develop during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. According to the National Diabetes Registry, between 20 and 40 cases of this condition are reported annually among pregnant women in Montenegro.

Conclusion and recommendations

Montenegro has a high diabetes prevalence rate (approximately 11%), with a continuous upward trend. Poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, genetic predisposition, and an aging population are the primary factors contributing to the increasing number of cases.

On the other hand, widespread public education on healthy lifestyle choices could reduce diabetes cases by up to 50%. Besides improving public health, this would also significantly lower healthcare costs. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one-fifth of annual deaths involved individuals with diabetes.

Europe has the highest number of children with type 1 diabetes, which provides additional context for understanding the situation in Montenegro. To address this growing issue, a sustainable national strategy for diabetes prevention must be implemented.

Dr. Dragan Likić, Head of the National diabetes registry