Diabetes has rapidly come up as one of the most serious global public health challenges of modern times, growing far beyond its earlier perception as a lifestyle-related illness. Recent global data show that hundreds of millions of people are now living with the disease worldwide, with the total continuing to rise each year. Health experts caution that without urgent and sustained preventive steps, diabetes could place an overwhelming burden on the healthcare system, worsen economic productivity and deepen social imbalances across both developed and developing nations.
China currently carries the largest share of the global diabetes burden, with an estimated 140.9 million people affected. The scale of the problem highlights a combination of factors, including rapid urbanisation, reduced physical activity and key shifts toward high-calorie, processed diets. India follows with nearly 74.2 million people living with diabetes, a figure that emphasises the mounting impact of non-communicable diseases alongside population growth and urban lifestyle changes. Pakistan ranks next with around 33.0 million cases, while the United States reports around 32.2 million, underscoring that diabetes is not limited by income level or geography.
Across Asia and Latin America, the disease is advancing at an alarming pace. Indonesia is estimated to have 19.5 million people with diabetes, while Brazil reports around 15.7 million and Mexico around 14.1 million. In these countries, dense urban populations, declining physical activity and the widespread availability of inexpensive processed foods have meaningfully enhanced the spread of the disease.
South Asia remains particularly vulnerable. Bangladesh alone has an estimated 13.1 million people living with diabetes, placing it among the most affected countries in the region. Public health experts point to low awareness, delayed diagnosis and limited access to routine health screenings as key drivers of the growing burden. Similar patterns are evident elsewhere, with Japan reporting around 11.0 million cases and Egypt around 10.9 million, highlighting that diabetes is expanding steadily across societies with diverse cultural and financial backgrounds.
Europe continues to face a substantial and persistent diabetes challenge. Germany has around 6.2 million people living with the condition, while Spain reports unevenly 5.1 million and the United Kingdom about 4.0 million. France follows closely with around 3.9 million cases. In Africa, diabetes is rising faster than many health systems may manage, with Nigeria reporting approximately 3.6 million cases and South Africa close to 4.2 million, driven largely by urban growth, dietary change and limited preventive healthcare.
Medical professionals underscore that diabetes is not merely a matter of elevated blood sugar levels. The disease meaningfully increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss and nerve damage, often leading to long-term disability and premature death. These complications sharply increase healthcare cost and reduce workforce productivity, creating a cycle of financial and social strain, particularly in countries with limited health resources.
Experts widely agree that addressing the diabetes crisis needs a decisive shift from treatment-focused responses to prevention-driven strategies. Promoting healthy and balanced diets, encouraging regular physical activity, controlling obesity and ensuring early detection through routine screening must become central public health priorities. Strengthening public awareness, expanding access to primary healthcare and embedding preventive policies into national health systems are increasingly seen as the most effective ways to slow the global rise of diabetes and prevent a far deeper public health and economic crisis in the years ahead.
