Portugal recorded almost 81 thousand new cases of diabetes in 2024, bringing the number of people registered in health centers diagnosed with the disease to more than 936 thousand, the company announced today. Directorate-General for Health (DGS).
The data is contained in the 2025 DGS report on the National Diabetes Program, released today, which indicates that the 936,987 diabetics (type 1 and 2) registered in primary health care (CSP) at the end of 2024 represented 8.9% of users enrolled in the National Health Service (SNS).
“The growth trend observed in previous years is confirmed, both in the absolute number of cases and in the percentage proportion of the population”, warns the DGS, which states that the number of people diagnosed with the disease increased from around 833 thousand in 2020 to more than 936 thousand in 2024.
“80,915 new diabetes diagnosis records were made in 2024 in PHCs”also highlights the document to which Lusa had access, warning that “Portugal maintains a high prevalence” of the disease, which “has represented one of the biggest public health challenges” in the country for decades.
According to the DGS, the majority of users with diabetes had at least one nursing consultation at the CSP, with an “increasing focus” on managing the therapeutic regimen, including nutrition, physical activity and medication.
Gestational diabetes was detected in 8.4% of pregnancies whose birth occurred in the SNS in 2023, the document states, adding that the risk assessment for type 2 diabetes was carried out in 3.89 million users in the 2022/2024 period, corresponding globally to 62% of the target population.
At the end of 2024, 4,661 people with type 1 diabetes were being treated with a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion system (insulin pumps), but already this year, with the availability of these devices through pharmacies, there was a “significant growth” in access to this type of treatment. At the end of the first half of 2025, 5,537 users were undergoing treatment, of which 3,546 were using automatic insulin administration systems, according to the DGS.
The data also indicates that, in 2023, there were more than 260 thousand hospital episodes of people with diabetes in the NHS and that 33% of cases of acute myocardial infarction and 31% of strokes occurred in people with the disease.
According to the report, total expenditure on the consumption of antidiabetic medications increased from 493 million euros in 2023 to 616 million in 2024.
“Although diabetes will represent 2.8% of all deaths in 2023, the death rate before the age of 70 has decreased significantly since 2019”also highlights the DGS.
In 2024, 46% of people with diabetes were invited to be screened for diabetic retinopathy, but only 29% did so.
Regarding diabetic foot screening, it was carried out in 83% of users with diabetes, according to the DGS, which recognizes that the rate of amputations remains high.
Type 2 diabetes is responsible for more than 90% of cases of the disease. Promoting healthy eating habits, regular physical activity and weight control are considered essential steps to reverse the growing trend of the disease.
To consolidate efficient coordination between the different levels of health care and promote greater integration between primary, hospital and community care, the DGS will today appoint local coordination teams for the National Diabetes Program.
The National Program for Diabetes has been adjusted over the years, and in 2012 it became part of the set of DGS Priority Health Programs, reflecting the growing weight of the disease in Portuguese society.