Diabetes in India has moved far beyond being a personal health concern and has emerged as one of the country’s most serious economic challenges, with long-term consequences that stretch well beyond hospitals and clinics.
A new international study estimates that India bears thesecond-highest economic burden of diabetes globally, amounting to$11.4 trillion. Only the United States ranks higher, with costs estimated at $16.5 trillion, while China follows at $11 trillion. These findings come at a time when India is already grappling with the world’s largest diabetes population. According to a report by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), published inThe Lancet, India accounted for more than a quarter of the world’s828 million diabetes cases in 2022. Alarmingly, nearly62% of people living with diabetes in the country were not receiving treatment.
Published inNature Medicine, the study analysed the economic impact of diabetes across204 countries between 2020 and 2050, factoring in not just healthcare expenses but also productivity losses and caregiving demands. Researchers from institutions including the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business found that global diabetes-related costs total around$10 trillion, even without accounting for unpaid family care — roughly0.2% of global GDP.
When informal caregiving is included, the economic toll rises sharply to$152 trillion, or1.7% of global GDP. Much of this burden stems from caregivers reducing or exiting the workforce to support relatives living with diabetes. In fact, the study notes that nearly90% of the total cost arises from informal care, reflecting the long-term nature of the disease, where prevalence far exceeds mortality.
In purchasing power terms, the United States tops the list with an economic burden ofINT$ 16.5 trillion, followed by India atINT$ 11.4 trillionand China atINT$ 11 trillion. For India and China, the overwhelming cost is driven by thesheer number of people affected, while in the US, high treatment expenses and productivity losses play a larger role.
The study also highlights stark global inequalities. In high-income countries, medical treatment accounts for about41% of diabetes-related costs, compared to just14% in low-income nations, underscoring limited access to care. Researchers described this gap as a reflection of how effective treatment for chronic illnesses remains largely confined to wealthier countries.
Notably, the economic impact of diabetes exceeds that of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, making it one of thecostliest chronic illnesses worldwide. The researchers emphasised the urgent need for prevention strategies, including promoting physical activity, healthier diets and weight management, alongsideearly detection, population-wide screening and timely treatmentto reduce complications and long-term costs.
With more than a quarter of the world’s diabetics living in India, the findings make it clear that addressing diabetes is not just a public health priority — it is a critical economic imperative for the country’s future.
