With diabetes since age 5: who is affected in Israel and how it is treated in new ways

Ministry of Health data: 708,553 Israelis with diabetes in 2024 (7.5% of the population). Among those aged 65–84, the rate is 33.4%. The disease is more common and harder to control in the Arab sector and among people with low socioeconomic status. Doctors discuss new medications and treatment approaches. The story of Ran Granot, diagnosed at age 5.

According to the Ministry of Health, in 2024 there were 708,553 people with diabetes in Israel (7.5% of the population). Prevalence increases with age: 33.4% among those aged 65–84 and 35.3% among those over 85. Among those aged 20–79, 10.1% have diabetes—higher than in Europe (8%) but lower than in the US and China. The disease is more common in the Arab sector (12.7% vs. 6% among Jews aged 45–54) and among people with low socioeconomic status (25.7% vs. 11.3% among the affluent aged 55–64). Doctors note that new drugs such as Jardiance and Forxiga may slow the progression of complications. The article also tells the story of Ran Granot, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 5; he is now 30, married, raising two children, and co-founded a cybersecurity startup.