Alarming figures ahead of World Diabetes Day
According to a recent report by World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia, only one out of three adults living with diabetes in the region receives any form of treatment and fewer than 15% have their blood glucose levels adequately controlled.
Why this region is under the scanner
The WHO region for South-East Asia, which includes countries like India and its neighbours, shoulders 279 million adults with diabetes about one-third of the global burden. Many are undiagnosed, untreated or poorly managed, making prevention and care a serious challenge for public-health systems.
What the data reveal
Here are the key insights from the latest update:
- Only ≈ 33% of adults with diabetes in the region receive treatment.
- Less than 15% of all adults with diabetes have their blood glucose under control.
- The theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Diabetes across life stages” highlighting the need for care from childhood through older age.
- WHO officials emphasise age- and life-stage-appropriate prevention, diagnosis and management strategies covering children, pregnant women and elders alike.
- Regional policy commitments: The “SEAHEARTS” resolution and the “Colombo Call for Action” have been adopted to strengthen prevention and access to care.
What health leaders are saying
Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia, pointed out:
“Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease, can lead to life-threatening damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes if diagnosed late or managed poorly.”
She underlined that equitable access to treatment and lifelong support must be delivered across all age-groups from children and expectant mothers to older adults to turn the tide.
The wide-ranging impact
- Health burden: Untreated or uncontrolled diabetes can result in complications like heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss and nerve damage.
- Economic cost: Many countries in the region face growing healthcare costs and lost productivity due to unmanaged diabetes.
- Life-stage vulnerability: Children, pregnant women and older adults all have specific diabetes-care needs that are currently under-addressed.
- Health equity gap: The treatment and control rates reveal a stark inequality in access to care even when diagnosis happens, continuity of treatment is weak.
Steps for progress
- Countries must scale up diagnosis, and ensure those diagnosed are linked to treatment and follow-up care.
- Implementation of age-responsive policies tailored programs for children, maternal health-linked diabetes care and elder support should be prioritised.
- Strengthening primary health-care systems to deliver diabetes-management protocols, affordable insulin and glucose-monitoring tools is critical.
- Public-health campaigns must reinforce lifestyle prevention (diet, activity, avoid tobacco/alcohol) and continuous support for those already living with diabetes.
- Data-systems should track treatment and control rates, enabling accountability and targeted interventions.
The gap is no longer unseen
The fact that only one in three adults with diabetes in South-East Asia receives treatment and fewer than 15% have their condition under control is a wake-up call for governments, health systems and communities alike. Closing this diabetes treatment gap will require concerted action across care pathways and life stages. If the region acts swiftly, it can pivot from crisis toward sustained health and dignity for millions.
