Diabetes Patients Increasing Annually, 17.23 Million Over 5 Years

Diabetes Patients in Their 20s Increase by 51.4% in 5 Years

Diabetes Complication Tests Not Included in Health Checkup Items

Won-i Kim, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The number of patients diagnosed with diabetes has been rapidly increasing every year. Diabetes is a disease that is easy to overlook because it does not show any special health symptoms in the early stages, and even if symptoms occur, they are often felt as mild fatigue.

According to data submitted by the National Health Insurance Service to Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, Mokpo City, Jeonnam), over the past five years, a total of 17.23 million people received treatment for diabetes, with medical expenses amounting to 12.7 trillion KRW.

Over the recent five years (2015?2019), the number of patients treated for diabetes increased from 2.53 million to 3.22 million, a rise of 690,000 people (27.7%), and medical expenses increased by more than 900 billion KRW (50.6%) from about 1.8 trillion KRW to approximately 2.7 trillion KRW during the same period.

The number of male diabetes patients was higher than that of females every year, with the highest number in the age group over 50. As of last year, diabetes patients aged 50 and above accounted for 2.74 million, representing 85% of all age groups.

Notably, the increase rate of diabetes patients in their 20s has significantly risen over the past five years. The number of diabetes patients in their 20s has been increasing by about 11% annually, showing the highest growth rate of 51.4% over five years.

However, the health screening rate for early detection and prevention of diabetes was somewhat low, with 16.18 million out of 20 million eligible individuals (75%) undergoing screening as of last year. Among them, medical aid beneficiaries with difficulties in daily living had a screening rate of only 38%, less than half, with only 240,000 out of 630,000 receiving tests.

Diabetes is a disease that can threaten life due to diabetic complications, but due to a lack of information about complications and the fact that diabetic complication tests are not included in the national health screening items, the health screening rate among diabetes patients is low because of the economic burden.

Kim Won-i emphasized, “Although diabetes takes quite a long time to cure and has a high possibility of causing complications, the health screening rate remains low,” adding, “It is necessary for health authorities to support measures such as including screening items for diabetes patients in the national health screening system at the national level.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.