Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases worldwide: the IDF Diabetes Atlas estimates nearly 590 million adults are living with diabetes, over three-quarters of them in low- and middle-income countries — and almost half remain undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through weight management, physical activity and diet, while therapeutics are advancing rapidly with GLP-1 receptor agonists and beyond. The WHO Global Diabetes Compact sets coverage targets for diagnosis, glycaemic control and access to insulin a century after its discovery.