ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil has recorded 1,120 new diabetes cases between January and October this year, a leading health director in the Kurdish capital told Rudaw on Saturday, emphasizing that the actual number is likely much higher, as many cases remain unregistered.
“This year, through October, some 1,120 new cases of diabetes have been recorded in Erbil,” said Mahdi Hamadamin, director of Galiawa Diabetes and Endocrinology Teaching Center. However, he anticipated that “the real figure is much higher, but these cases have not yet been registered.”
The Galiawa Center works closely with the Erbil Directorate of Health, affiliated with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) health ministry.
On Thursday, the privately owned Erbil International Hospital hosted a panel on diabetes and preventive measures. Data presented at the event showed that Iraq had 2.7 million diabetes cases last year, up from 449,900 in 2000, with projections suggesting the number could reach six million by 2050.
Meanwhile, figures provided by Rudaw’s Health Desk indicate that over 100,000 people are living with diabetes in the Kurdistan Region, with the highest concentration in Erbil province.
The data also show that approximately 5,000 new cases are registered in medical centers each year, not accounting for undiagnosed or unregistered cases.
According to Hamadamin, since its inauguration in October 2024, the Galiawa Center has registered 53,000 diabetes cases, with patients receiving medications through regular prescription notebooks. Among children, 66 new cases were recorded this year, he said.
For his part, Dr. Dilshad Muhammed Chomani, a renowned general surgeon and thyroid specialist, told Rudaw that diabetes “is on the rise globally and is increasingly affecting children.”
He warned that “diabetes is a chronic condition that can lead to serious complications, including blindness, if not properly managed,” stressing that “early testing is crucial for timely diagnosis, better control and to minimize complications.”
According to the 2025 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas, 589 million adults aged 20-79 worldwide are living with diabetes, including 9.1 million with type 1 diabetes. Around 252 million remain undiagnosed. Diabetes is responsible for 3.4 million deaths globally each year, the Federation adds.