India faces second highest economic burden due to diabetes

A new study found that India has the second highest economic burden due to diabetes, with costs of USD 11.4 trillion.

The United States has the highest costs at USD 16.5 trillion, and China is third at USD 11 trillion.

The study looked at the economic impact of diabetes in 204 countries from 2020 to 2050.

The global costs of diabetes are around USD 10 trillion, which is about 0.2% of the world's annual GDP.

If you include the cost of informal care by family members, the total cost goes up to USD 152 trillion, or 1.7% of the world's yearly GDP.

The high costs in India and China are mainly because many people are affected, while in the United States, the costs are high due to expensive treatments and the need to divert physical capital.

The study also found that high-income countries spend more on treatment, while low-income countries lose more due to people not being able to work.

The researchers say that promoting healthier lifestyles, like regular exercise and a balanced diet, is the best way to prevent diabetes and reduce its economic impact.

Early detection and treatment are also important to lessen the health and economic effects of diabetes.

Over a quarter of the world's diabetics are estimated to live in India.