A closer look at the hidden gap in diabetes diagnosis around the world

• In 2023, about 44% of people aged 15 and over living with diabetes didnt know they had it.

• Under-diagnosis is especially high among younger individuals.

• The study reveals a global snapshot of the diabetes care cascadefrom awareness to treatment.

Imagine almost half the people who have diabetes don't even know it.

That's exactly what researchers uncovered in a major global analysis published in 2025.

Despite diabetes being a widespread and serious health issue, a huge chunk of those affected remain undiagnosed. This isnt just a number its a wake-up call about the gaps in detection and care around the world.

By 2050, 1.3 billion people are expected to be living with diabetes, and if nearly half dont know they have a serious and potentially deadly health condition, it could easily become a silent epidemic, researcher Lauryn Stafford said in a news release.

The study

The study comes from the Global Burden of Disease research, which examines health trends worldwide.

Researchers looked specifically at the "cascade of care" related to diabetes in 2023 from who has the condition, to who knows about it, to who receives treatment. They focused on people aged 15 and older, gathering and analyzing data across countries and regions to understand where breakdowns in detection and treatment are happening.

What the study found: the numbers behind the gap

Heres the tough truth: in 2023, 44% of people aged 15 and older with diabetes were unaware of their condition.

Thats nearly half of all individuals living with the disease many without treatment or necessary lifestyle adjustments flying under the radar.

On the other hand, over 90% of those who knew they were diabetic were receiving treatment for the disease. However, of that group, just 42% had a handle on maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Overall, these findings found that 21% of all diabetics around the world had the disease under control.

Trends in diagnoses

The largest share of undiagnosed cases were found among younger populations. In other words, younger people with diabetes are at notably higher risk of being unaware they have it.

The researchers also found that certain demographic factors impacted the rate of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

For instance, diabetics in Southern Latin America had the highest rates of blood sugar management. Similarly, high-income diabetics in Asia-Pacific had the highest rates of diabetics receiving treatment. On the other hand, individuals in Central Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest rates of diagnosis.

The broader context reminds us that diabetes remains a profound global health challenge not only for those diagnosed, but for those who havent even been identified yet.

COVID-19 is no longer a top 10 cause of death

• The U.S. saw roughly 3.07 million deaths in 2024, with a notable 3.8% drop in the overall age-adjusted death rate compared to 2023.

• Mortality fell across most age, sex, and racial/ethnic groups, though the highest death rate remained among Black non-Hispanic individuals, and infants didnt see a meaningful decrease.

• Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries remained the top causes of death, while COVID-19 dropped out of the top 10 for 2024.
  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released provisional data on the U.S. death rate in 2024. The latest report includes information on death certificates processed up to June 1, 2025.

While there is plenty to unpack from these findings, two of the biggest headlines:

• The overall U.S. death rate is the lowest its been since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19 is no longer a top 10 cause of death.

Provisional death estimates can give researchers and policymakers an early signal about shifts in mortality trends and provide actionable information sooner than final mortality data, the report states. These data can inform public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing mortality.

The study

Researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics used death certificate data covering over 99% of deaths in 2024.

They broke things down by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Causes of death were classified using the standard ICD-10 system, then ranked based on how often they showed up as the underlying cause.

The researchers used U.S. Census population estimates from mid-2024 to calculate death rates, including age-adjusted rates (to account for population age differences) and simple age-specific rates. Statistical tests ensured comparisons were reliable (p-value

The results

In 2024, there were approximately 3,072,039 deaths in the U.S. Overall, the age-adjusted death rate fell to 722.0 per 100,000 people, down from 750.5 in 2023 a 3.8% decrease, which marks the lowest rate since 2020.

Death rates declined across nearly all age groups except infants (under 1 year) showed no significant change and most demographic groups too. Men continued to have a higher death rate than women (844.8 vs. 613.5 per 100,000.

Among different racial and ethnic groups, the lowest age-adjusted death rate was among multiracial non-Hispanic individuals (332.3), while the highest was among Black non-Hispanic individuals (884.0).

The study also broke down the top 10 causes of death across the United States. Notably, COVID-19 has been removed from that list.

Heres a look at the full list:

• Heart disease (683,037 deaths)

• Cancer (619,812)

• Unintentional injuries (196,488)

• Stroke (166,783)

• Chronic lower respiratory diseases (145,612)

• Alzheimers disease (116,016)

• Diabetes (94,382)

• Kidney disease (55,070)

• Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (52,529)

• Suicide (48,863)

The change is intended to make recycling easier and reduce ink and energy use during production

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

The only thing more refreshing than a bottle of cold water might be the fact that it now comes without a label. Sams Club members in China can now buy label-free drinking water under the retailers private brand, Members Mark a move the company says reduces plastic waste and boosts recyclability. What about thirsty consumers in the U.S. There's no word on when or if the label-free bottles will be introduced here.

Cutting plastic & waste

By removing labels from its water bottles, Sams Club is cutting both plastic and ink use, leaving behind a single material thats easier to recycle. The streamlined bottles also save energy during production. Nutrition facts and other details arent disappearing altogether they remain printed on the case packaging, since water will only be sold in multi-bottle packs.

Customer reaction to the minimalist design will help determine whether Sams Club expands the initiative beyond this pilot program.

The Members Mark water is drawn from three protected reservoirs in China: Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang, Wanlv Lake in Guangdong, and Danjiangkou Reservoir in Hubei. The label-free design is intended to reflect the purity of its contents while aligning with Walmarts wider environmental goals.

Asustainability push

While the no-label water bottle grabs headlines, its just one step in a broader effort to make packaging across Sams Club China more sustainable. The company has introduced a variety of changes, including removing unnecessary plastic components, swapping in recyclable alternatives, and using aqueous coatings on paperboard packaging instead of plastic lamination.

One example: Members Mark freeze-dried instant coffee powder recently ditched its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film window and switched to more recyclable coatings, reducing plastic use by nearly 6 grams per box. The new packaging also sports colorful, tropical-themed artwork, underscoring the brands emphasis on sustainability with style.

Global commitments

These local changes fit into Walmarts global sustainability strategy. The company has pledged to become a regenerative business, integrating climate, waste, and nature initiatives into its operations. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Gigaton, launched in 2017, which aims to eliminate 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Walmart achieved that goal six years early, in February 2024, thanks to partnerships with more than 330 suppliers in China alone.

Sams Club executives say the label-free water is more than just a packaging update its an invitation for consumers to weave sustainability into daily life. By rethinking something as ordinary as a water bottle, the company hopes to make the sustainable choice the easy choice.

Fans and some critics suspect 'holdbacks,' a tactic that can keep prices high

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Fans flooded social media with complaints after presale queues stretched into the millions.

• Many who made it through found all tickets marked sold out almost instantly.

• Industry insiders blame possible ticket holdbacks, a tactic that frustrates consumers but props up prices.

Fans say ticket hunt was impossible

Ariana Grande fans are venting their frustration after tickets for her 2026 Eternal Sunshine Tour proved nearly impossible to secure. Since presales began September 9, social platforms have been filled with complaints about long queues in some cases more than a million people deep.

Even those who managed to get through the hours-long wait often found every option labeled sold out. When general sales opened the next day, tickets in many cities vanished within minutes, prompting Ticketmaster to warn fans that only very limited seats remained.

https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/09/ariana-grande-fans-ticketmaster-eternal-sunshine-tour/Questions swirl over ticket availability

The rapid sellouts have led to accusations that promoters and ticketing platforms restricted public access. At least one industry source claimed that in some markets only about 1,000 tickets were released to the general sale, with the rest held back for presales or later release.

Such holdbacks are a common but controversial tactic: tickets are set aside and released in small waves, sustaining demand and keeping prices elevated by maintaining the illusion of scarcity. Fans also criticized Grande for booking arenas rather than stadiums, saying her fan base could easily have filled larger venues after a seven-year touring hiatus.

Ticketmaster faces wider backlash

Grandes fans are only the latest to complain about Ticketmasters systems. In recent years, fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Sleep Token and Green Day have all endured long online queues, error messages and abrupt price spikes that left many empty-handed.

Critics say the platforms dominance allows it to operate without meaningful accountability, even as fan frustration mounts with each high-profile tour launch.

Grandes return to the road

The Eternal Sunshine Tour will open June 6, 2026, at Oakland Arena in California and wind through the U.S. and Canada before closing with five nights at Londons O2 Arena in August. Multiple cities, including Austin, Sunrise, Atlanta and Montreal, will host repeat shows.

Grande last toured in 2019 with the Sweetener World Tour, which sold out arenas worldwide. Her comeback follows the release of Eternal Sunshine, the 2024 album that debuted atop the Billboard 200 and cemented her as one of pops most enduring stars.

2026 tour dates