"Diabetes Atlas" (5th Edition), produced by the International Diabetes Federation stated that three new diagnoses will be made every ten seconds, nearly ten million annually, Medical News Today Reported.

Experts believe that approximately 183 million people have diabetes but don't know it.

Diabetes will gradually replace infectious diseases as the major public health problem over the next twenty years. Cases of diabetes in Africa will probably rise by 90% by 2030. Over three-quarters of people in Africa who have diabetes are unaware of their diabetes status.

The report also found that, 80% of people worldwide with diabetes are from developing nations. Annually, there are 78,000 new cases of childhood diabetes (diabetes type 1) Diabetes is most prevalent among people aged from 40 to 59 years. President of the International Diabetes Federation, Jean Claude Mbanya, said: "In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease".