Today, on World Diabetes Day, India is staring at a number that should make everyone pause. An estimated 3.86 crore Indian adults are living with diabetes and do not know it. That is 43 in every 100 people who have the condition, with no diagnosis, no treatment and no idea that high blood sugar is silently damaging their body.
The figures come from the International Diabetes Federation, whose Diabetes Atlas 2025 puts the total at 8.98 crore Indian adults aged 20 to 79, based on 2024 data. Only 57 per cent of them have been diagnosed. This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Early Action on Diabetes”, is aimed squarely at that gap: find the condition early, before it turns into heart disease, kidney failure or vision loss.
The numbers behind the gap
India has the second largest diabetes population in the world, after China. Globally, 589 million adults live with diabetes, and 252 million of them, more than 40 per cent, do not know it. Another 635 million adults worldwide are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.
The scale is what makes it alarming. The IDF estimates that up to half of all people with diabetes may already have complications by the time they finally get a diagnosis. Diabetes-related health spending in India reached $9.8 billion in 2024, much of it going towards treating complications such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and vision loss, which early detection could often have delayed or prevented.
An older ICMR-INDIAB study estimated 101.3 million Indians had diabetes and 136 million had prediabetes. Both estimates point the same way: far more people are affected than know about it.
Why so many cases go unnoticed
Diabetes, especially type 2, often develops quietly. Many people feel fine for years while their blood sugar stays high. That silence is why the IDF’s new survey, released ahead of World Diabetes Day, makes uncomfortable reading.
- 75 per cent of at-risk Indian adults mistakenly believe prediabetes causes obvious symptoms. In reality, prediabetes usually has no symptoms at all.
- Only 14 per cent of the 502 at-risk adults surveyed in India believed they were likely to develop type 2 diabetes, even though 84 per cent agreed a risk check was worthwhile even for healthy people.
- Fear of a diagnosis keeps many people away from screening, according to the same survey, even when testing is free and takes only a few minutes.
Dr Nikhil Tandon, director of AIIMS New Delhi, warned ahead of the awareness day that nearly half of all people living with diabetes in India may be unaware of their condition until a routine screening catches it.
What early action actually looks like
Screening is simple. A fasting blood glucose test, an HbA1c test or an oral glucose tolerance test can confirm the condition, and a finger-prick check at a health camp can flag the risk in minutes. The IDF also offers a free two-minute type 2 diabetes risk test online.
Across India today, hospitals and community groups are running free blood glucose screening camps. Government data shows more than 36 crore diabetes screenings had been conducted by October 31, 2025.
The WHO’s message this year is straightforward: recognise the symptoms, get tested, and get referred for care in time. Watch for frequent urination, unusual thirst, constant tiredness, unexplained weight loss, slow-healing wounds and blurred vision. Anyone with a family history of diabetes, excess weight or a sedentary routine should get checked even if they feel fine.
The 2030 target India has to chase
The WHO has set a global target of diagnosing at least 80 per cent of people living with diabetes by 2030. India, at 57 per cent, has a long way to go: reaching the target needs about 20.7 million additional diagnoses, roughly 13,700 every single day until the end of 2030.
That sounds daunting, but every screening camp and routine blood test closes the gap a little. The day’s message is not about fear. It is about a test that takes minutes and can add years of healthy life.
World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin. A century after his discovery, the challenge is no longer finding a treatment, it is finding the people who need it.
FAQs
What is the theme of World Diabetes Day 2026?
The theme is “Early Action on Diabetes”, chosen by the WHO and the International Diabetes Federation to push early screening and diagnosis.
How many Indians have undiagnosed diabetes?
About 3.86 crore adults, or 43 per cent of the estimated 8.98 crore Indian adults living with diabetes, according to the IDF Diabetes Atlas 2025.
Why is diabetes often diagnosed late?
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes usually have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so many people never feel the need to get tested until complications appear.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Through a fasting blood glucose test, an HbA1c test or an oral glucose tolerance test. A finger-prick check at a screening camp can flag the risk quickly.
What is the WHO target for diabetes diagnosis?
At least 80 per cent of people living with diabetes should be diagnosed by 2030. India currently stands at 57 per cent.
Note: This article is for general health awareness only, not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have symptoms or risk factors, consult a doctor.
