Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-Diabetes in Mosul City, Northern Iraq: Changes over 20 years!

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre-diabetes represent a major health problem around the world, and their incidence and prevalence rates are rising. Data about changes in their prevalence rates in Iraq over the last few decades is limited.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence rates of T2DM and pre-diabetes among the adult ( 25 years old) population in Mosul City, Northern Iraq, and to compare them to the previous figures revealed by the previous literature.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that involved the screening of (410) adult subjects of both sexes from 7 different urban and rural areas in Mosul, 4 from the Mosul district itself (Al-Qahiraa, Al-Tiseen, Tammuz, and Althawra Quarters) and two from some rural areas surrounding the city (Al-Hamdaniyah town, and Bejwanyah village). In addition, the last sample consisted of subjects accompanying in-patients in different hospitals in the city. The study was conducted over 4 months starting from the 1st of September through 31st December 2024. Two blood tests, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting serum glucose (FSG) were measured after 12-16 hours of fasting and their values were used to classify participants into three groups; normal blood sugar group, pre-diabetic group, and diabetic group based on ADA diagnostic criteria. Known cases of T2DM were also included in the calculations of the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes. The study followed a strict systematic randomization approach and was ethically approved.
Results: The overall prevalence of T2DM among study participants was 11.46% (14.77% for males, and 9.58 for females), and of prediabetes was 18.78%, (16.77% for males, and 19.9% among females). The prevalence of T2DM has increased by about 1.11% compared to our previous report (10.35%) published in 2002 with a dramatic increase in the rate of pre-diabetes.
Conclusion: There has been an increase in the prevalence rate of T2DM and a dramatic increase in the prevalence rate of pre-diabetes in Mosul City over the last two decades, this increment may be partly explained by changes in lifestyle and modifications in ADA diagnostic criteria for prediabetes.