Diseases and quality of care – Diabetes

Over 424,000 Finns have type 2 diabetes

At the end of 2025, 424,000 people in Finland had type 2 diabetes, and 63 percent of them were under 75 years of age. Seven out of one hundred Finns have type 2 diabetes. The incidence is 510/100,000, meaning that 24,000 new patients are diagnosed each year.

The information is based on the Diabetes Registry, which is part of the national quality registers.

In the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the LDL cholesterol levels have been successfully improved

Among people aged 18–74 with type 2 diabetes, the treatment LDL cholesterol has in recent years been actively improved with good results.

Among patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate or high risk of cardiovascular disease, the LDL cholesterol target value was reached by 51 percent in 2018 and already by 72 percent in 2025.

It is important to identify patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk

Type 2 diabetes is a highly heterogeneous disease group, and it is important to identify patients who are at high risk.

Patients who get type 2 diabetes diagnosis at a young age and who are at risk of progressive kidney disease have a high risk of cardiovascular complications or premature death. The proportion of patients with enough information to define the risk group increased from 41 percent to 62 percent from 2018–2025 due to more active screening for proteinuria.

An alarming trend is the increased prevalence among people under 40 with type 2 diabetes, as shown in the figure. Getting type 2 diabetes before the age of 40 means a high risk of complications and premature death.

45,700 Finns have type 1 diabetes

At the end of 2025, 45,700 people had type 1 diabetes, and half of them were under 40 years old. 

One in one hundred Finns has type 1 diabetes, and the incidence is 18/100,000 inhabitants per year. Each year, 1,000 new patients develop type 1 diabetes. Incidence is highest in childhood.

Type 1 diabetes is associated with excess mortality and a significant number of years of life lost

Type 1 diabetes is associated with 2.11 times higher excess mortality compared to the population without diabetes. Diabetes also increases premature mortality nearly fourfold among 30–49-year-olds. People with diabetes have an average life expectancy 14.8 years shorter than people without diabetes in Finland, and deaths directly caused by diabetes account for most of the lost years of life—an average of 20.2 years. Therefore, resources should be allocated to developing the treatment of type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents, and young adults. Glucose balance, early identification and active treatment of kidney disease, as well as active identification and treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems, are central risk factors that influence prognosis.

Figure 2: Excess mortality associated with type 1 diabetes is highlighted among 30–49-year-olds.

 

Explore the statistical data

Go to the Diabetes Registry report

Quality indicators to be reported:

• Number of patients with diabetes
• Prevalence of diabetes
• Incidence of diabetes and number of new patients with diabates
• Mortality among diabetes patients
• Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases 
• Diabetic kidney disease
• HbA1c, long-term estimate for blood glucose levels
• LDL cholesterol in different risk groups

The results are reported separately for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, by age group. The results can be compared by welfare area or by municipality within welfare areas.

Background information

Description in the data catalogue: Diabetes Register
Data protection notice

Source

Diabetes Registry

Statistical description

The aim of the National Diabetes Registry is to monitor and help improve the quality and effectiveness of diabetes care throughout Finland. The Diabetes Registry monitors diabetes follow-up and treatment as they are implemented across the entire care pathway.

The register collects data from primary health care and specialized medical care, as well as from both public and private health care. The data sources used are the Kela Kanta archive and the Prescription Centre, the Benefits Register, and the Population Information System.

The data is collected automatically, and maintaining the register does not require separate documentation by professionals or any separate data transfers.

Update schedule

Updated twice annually.