Diabetes epidemic is spreading fast and it isn’t just making people sicker worldwide but also burdening economic health of nations. Findings of a new study published in Nature Medicine shows India faces the second highest economic burden due to diabetes, of $11.4 trillion, while United States bears the maximum cost of $16.5 trillion.
It is the invisible financial burden that’s driving the cost as a researcher noted that caregivers of diabetes patients drop out of labour market, at least partially adding to economic costs.
Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria calculated the economic impact of diabetes across 204 countries from 2020 to 2050.
While excluding informal care provided by family members, the global costs comes around $10 trillion – about 0.2 per cent of the world’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). However, if informal care is factored in the amounts goes up to $152 trillion, or 1.7 per cent of the world’s yearly GDP, as per the study.
“The United States faces the largest economic burden of diabetes mellitus at INT$ 2.5 trillion, followed by India at INT$ 1.6 trillion and China at INT$ 1.0 trillion. When considering informal care loss, the largest economic burdens are INT$ 16.5 trillion in the United States, INT$ 11.4 trillion in India and INT$ 11.0 trillion in China,” the authors wrote.
Researchers estimated that the economic impact of diabetes was much more than Alzheimer’s disease or cancer.
What is diabetes and how does it impact us
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting several aspects of physical and mental health. It occurs when either the body can’t make enough insulin or can’t use it effectively, which impairs several functions. This can over the time result in kidney failure, heart attack, blindness, stroke, and even organ amputation.
The disease that affects our lives in several ways is set to rise to over 780 million by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). There is an urgent need to nip the disease risk in the bud and modify habits that could be fuelling this silent epidemic.
Dr Pankaj Sharma, Director of dept Robotics, Bariatrics, Laparoscopic and General Surgery from Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, in an interview with Financial Express.com shares warning signs of diabetes and tips to prevent it.
What are the biggest lifestyle and dietary factors driving India’s rising diabetes burden today?
From what I see in my practice, the biggest trigger is excess body fat—especially belly fat. Our diets have shifted to refined carbs, sugary drinks, frequent snacking, and oversized portions, while physical activity has dropped sharply. Long sitting hours, poor sleep, and chronic stress further worsen insulin resistance. Many people believe they are ‘not overeating,’ but hidden calories from oils, sugar, and processed foods add up. Over time, this leads to obesity, fatty liver, and eventually type 2 diabetes. Genetics plays a role, but the combination of unhealthy lifestyle and excess fat is the real driver.
Which early warning signs or test results indicate a high risk of developing diabetes?
Early diabetes is often silent. Common warning signs include weight gain around the waist, fatigue after meals, increased hunger, frequent urination, and slow healing of wounds. On tests, red flags include prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7–6.4), fasting sugar above 100 mg/dl, high triglycerides, fatty liver on ultrasound, and increasing BMI. Many obese patients already have insulin resistance even before sugar levels rise. This is the stage where intervention—medical, lifestyle, or sometimes surgical—can prevent full-blown diabetes.
How effective are small, everyday changes like walking, sleep, or sugar reduction in preventing diabetes?
Small changes work only if they are consistent. A daily 30–45 minute walk, reducing sugar and refined carbs, eating protein-rich meals, and improving sleep can significantly lower diabetes risk, especially in early stages. However, in patients with severe obesity, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough. This is where bariatric surgery becomes a powerful metabolic tool, helping reduce fat mass, improve insulin sensitivity, and even reverse diabetes in many cases. The key is choosing the right solution for the right patient.
Who should get screened for diabetes, and how often, even if they have no symptoms?
Anyone above 30 years, especially those with obesity, family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, PCOS, fatty liver, or a sedentary lifestyle, should be screened annually. People with increasing waist size, even if weight seems stable, must not ignore testing. For overweight or obese individuals, I strongly advise yearly sugar tests, as early detection can prevent long-term complications and may help avoid the need for aggressive treatments later.
What common myths about diabetes prevention could actually be increasing risk?
One dangerous myth is: “I’m not eating sugar, so I won’t get diabetes.” Excess rice, roti, fried foods, and late-night eating can be just as harmful. Another myth is “diabetes is inevitable in my family.” Genetics loads the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. Many also believe bariatric surgery is only cosmetic, this is incorrect. It is a proven metabolic surgery that reduces excess fat and can dramatically improve or even resolve diabetes. Ignoring obesity while treating only sugar levels is a mistake I see far too often said Dr Sharma.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While the author has incorporated expert medical guidance while producing the story and ensured full authentic information is provided to the reader, you should always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.