Diabetes Fact Sheet 2025: Special Edition on Diabetes with Obesity and in Pregnancy.

BACKGRUOUND: We evaluated epidemiologic trends and clinical characteristics in Koreans with diabetes and obesity and in those with diabetes in pregnancy.

METHODS

We analyzed Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2012-2023) to assess obesity trends in people with diabetes and used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2013-2023) to evaluate diabetes in pregnancy.

RESULTS

Among Korean adults with diabetes (≥19 years), 52.4% had obesity and 61.1% had abdominal obesity. Only 39.9% achieved the glycemic target (glycosylated hemoglobin <6.5%). The obesity prevalence was higher in younger age groups, and abdominal obesity showed an upward trend over the last 12 years. Diabetes in pregnancy increased despite declining total births, with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rising from 7.6% to 12.4%, and pregestational diabetes from 0.9% to 2.1%, reflecting older maternal age and pre-pregnancy obesity. Women with prior GDM had a higher risk of postpartum type 2 diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio, 6.07; 95% confidence interval, 5.97 to 6.17).

CONCLUSION

Obesity and abdominal obesity are highly prevalent among Korean adults with diabetes, with abdominal obesity increasing over the past decade, and obesity disproportionately affects younger adults. Diabetes in pregnancy has also increased with older maternal age and worsening pre-pregnancy metabolic health, underscoring the need for early weight-focused prevention.