At least 1.2 million Ukrainians have diabetes – health minister

Source: Viktor Liashko/Facebook

In Ukraine, at least 1.2 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, with 90% of cases attributed to type 2 diabetes, according to the country’s health ministry.

Health minister Viktor Liashko said the figure reflects only official statistics, while the real numbers could be even higher. “Type 2 diabetes is particularly insidious because it often shows no symptoms in the early stages. This leads to diagnoses being made only after years of progression,” Liashko said, adding that regular screenings could  help people handle the issue earlier.

He also noted an alarming trend where more young people are being diagnosed with diabetes due to their lifestyle and diet.

The minister said Ukraine has launched the “Affordable Medicines” program, which covers 55 medications for type 2 diabetes, 4 for diabetes insipidus, 63 types of insulin, and 45 medical devices such as blood glucose test strips for type 1 diabetes, making diabetes treatments accessible for patients across the country.