By India bears the second highest economic burden from diabetes, estimated at USD 11.4 trillion, following the United States at USD 16.5 trillion. China ranks third with USD 11 trillion, according to a recent international study. Experts warn that the financial impact of diabetes surpasses that of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures and early treatment.
Global Economic Impact of Diabetes
Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, analyzed the economic costs of diabetes across 204 countries from 2020 to 2050.
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The global economic burden excluding informal care is approximately USD 10 trillion, representing about 0.2% of the world’s annual GDP.
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Including informal care by family members, the total burden could reach USD 152 trillion, or 1.7% of the global GDP.
Professor Klaus Prettner, an author of the study, explained that caregivers often reduce their work participation, adding to economic losses.
Informal Care Drives Majority of Costs
The study found that informal caregiving contributes nearly 90% of the total economic burden. This is because the prevalence of diabetes far exceeds mortality, by a factor of 30-50.
The report highlights that:
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United States: INT$ 2.5 trillion; India: INT$ 1.6 trillion; China: INT$ 1.0 trillion (direct costs)
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With informal care: United States INT$ 16.5 trillion; India INT$ 11.4 trillion; China INT$ 11.0 trillion
(INT$ refers to an international dollar, a statistical unit equal in purchasing power to the US dollar.)
For India and China, the high costs are mainly due to large diabetic populations, while in the US, they stem from expensive treatments and diversion of physical capital.
Disparities Between High- and Low-Income Countries
The study noted differences in cost distribution:
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In high-income countries, 41% of the burden comes from treatment costs.
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In low-income countries, only 14% is from treatment, with lost labor accounting for a larger share.
Co-author Michael Kuhn said, “This clearly shows that advanced medical care for chronic diseases like diabetes is mostly accessible in high-income countries.”
Prevention and Early Detection Are Key
The researchers emphasized that the most effective way to reduce diabetes-related costs is through healthy lifestyles, including regular physical activity and balanced diets.
Additionally, early diagnosis via nationwide diabetes screening programs and timely treatment are crucial to minimize both health and economic consequences.
Over 25% of the world’s diabetic population lives in India, according to a study published in The Lancet in November 2024, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.
