WHO Issues First Guidelines On Type 1 Diabetes Care For Adults
The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced its first-ever guidelines for diagnosing and managing type 1 diabetes in adults, addressing ongoing challenges in accessing affordable insulin and healthcare more than a century after the drug was first discovered. The guidelines were released in conjunction with World Diabetes Day 2026 and offer evidence-based recommendations for treating the chronic condition in various healthcare settings, including resource-limited environments and areas facing emergencies.
The WHO has identified significant gaps in diabetes care, particularly related to insulin availability, regular blood glucose monitoring, and quality treatment for adults reliant on insulin for their survival. An estimated 9.5 million people were living with type 1 diabetes globally in 2025, with an additional 500,000 new diagnoses that year.
While type 1 diabetes is often associated with children, the WHO noted a rising incidence among adults, which underscores the need for enhanced diagnosis and treatment services that extend beyond pediatric healthcare.
Dr. Søren Brostrøm, WHO’s Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, emphasized the importance of the new guidelines, stating, “Insulin is a lifesaving treatment, discovered more than 100 years ago. Yet many people with type 1 diabetes do not have access to affordable and high-quality insulin.” He added that these recommendations aim to help countries provide optimal care, especially in areas with limited resources and disrupted healthcare services.
According to the guidelines, individuals with type 1 diabetes should receive multiple daily insulin injections, with dosages tailored to their blood glucose levels. Human insulin, which mimics the body’s natural insulin, is recommended as an effective treatment option, although other insulin types may be utilized when necessary.
Regular blood glucose monitoring is also advised, including periodic clinic-based tests that evaluate average blood sugar levels over several months. For at-home monitoring, patients can use finger-prick tests or continuous glucose monitors equipped with small sensors worn on the skin. In cases where blood glucose testing is not feasible, urine glucose testing may serve as an alternative.
The guidelines support WHO’s 2030 objective of ensuring that all individuals living with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring. The WHO plans to aid countries in implementing these recommendations by providing tools and guidance for measuring progress, while also encouraging the involvement of individuals living with diabetes in designing and evaluating healthcare programs.
This year’s World Diabetes Day theme is “Early action on diabetes.” The WHO has issued a warning about the severe complications associated with diabetes, which can include blindness, kidney failure, heart issues, strokes, and lower-limb amputations. The global incidence of diabetes has increased more than four times since 1990, with an estimated 830 million people living with the disease in 2022, the majority of whom have type 2 diabetes. Alarmingly, over 40 percent of those with diabetes remain undiagnosed.
