Type 2 Diabetes - Treatment Trends, Market Size (USD 45.9 Billion), Epidemiology Forecast to 2035

Rising Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Driving Market Growth

The type 2 diabetes market in 2025 is one of the most active sectors of the entire healthcare market. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the failure to produce sufficient insulin and/or inadequate use of insulin. Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone used to control the level of sugar in the blood. Long-term high blood sugar levels can damage organs and cause conditions such as heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and vision problems. As a result, type 2 diabetes has become a focus for patients, providers, and policymakers.

Lifestyle Factors and the Importance of Preventive Care

An increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes has been attributed to effects of substantially changed lifestyle and diet with reduced levels of physical activity and carrying an increased number of individuals who are classified as overweight or obese. In part, this is due to urbanization, which is associated with aging of the population, as older individuals have greater rates of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form in many countries, and thus serves as both a public health burden and a driver of the diabetes market. The market for type 2 diabetes includes drug treatments to manage blood sugar, monitoring devices, and patient programs. The general aims of diabetes management are to prevent or reduce long-term complications by maintaining blood sugar levels within a target range, and achieving this goal is the aim of new and evolving therapies. Lifestyle modification is the mainstay of type 2 diabetes treatment. Recommendations include dietary changes, exercise, and weight reduction, all of which are effective for both the prevention and the management of type 2 diabetes. These techniques are recommended by healthcare professionals to supplement medical therapies, as they lower blood sugar levels and improve general health with no side effects.

The type 2 diabetes market reached a value of USD 24.7 Billion across the top 7 markets (US, EU4, UK, and Japan) in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the top 7 major markets to reach USD 45.9 Billion by 2035, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.80% during 2025-2035.

Expanding Medication Options: Metformin, SGLT2 Inhibitors, GLP‑1 Agonists, and Insulin

Metformin, the most common first‑line drug, works mainly by decreasing glucose output from the liver and improving insulin sensitivity in other tissues and muscles. In practice, metformin's decades of use have made it secured as the first-line therapy for most people. More recently, other classes of new diabetes medications have further reshaped the treat-and-extend market for type 2 diabetes. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors work through reducing reabsorption of glucose, thus resulting in increased glucose excretion in urine and therefore lower blood glucose levels. The overall effect of SGLT2 inhibitors in combination with their blood glucose lowering properties includes modest weight loss and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is often associated with diabetes.

Another class are the glucagon‑like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) receptor agonists, which stimulate insulin secretion in response to food, slow gastric emptying, and act by these mechanisms to lower blood glucose levels. They also act as appetite suppressants. Since GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with weight loss, these drugs may be appropriate for overweight patients. Insulin remains an important addition in the pharmacotherapy of those with type 2 diabetes who cannot achieve good glycemic control on oral medications. Insulin preparations have been made more convenient, without loss of safety, through the development of long-acting preparations, which mimic the background level of insulin and reduce the number of daily injections required. Rapid-acting insulins, meanwhile, help minimize post-meal rises in blood sugar.

Technological Advancements and Digital Health Shaping Diabetes Management

In the type 2 diabetes industry, new technology has also fueled market growth. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices measure blood glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night, enabling patients and clinicians to make better treatment decisions and improve diabetes management. As insulin pumps and smart delivery systems have become more affordable and user-friendly, systems that provide personalized dosing through mobile applications and real-time information interventions have the potential to influence long-term clinical outcomes.

Digital health tools such as mobile phone applications and internet-based coaching programs can support patients to self-manage their diabetes by tracking their diet, physical activity and medication schedules, and supporting behavior change and adherence to treatment. Research into type 2 diabetes continues to investigate new drug classes and alternative drug delivery methods, therapeutic targeting of underlying metabolic pathways, and the regeneration of insulin-secreting cells. By 2025, the type 2 diabetes market will continue to be shaped by the burden of the disease and the treatment landscape, driven by the rising prevalence of the disease due to lifestyle and population demographics, and evolving treatment approaches that leverage improvements in medication, technology and patient support to strive for improved outcomes and quality of life for the millions living with type 2 diabetes.