THE ECONOMIC burden of diabetes is far greater than previously recognised and is set to place sustained pressure on health systems and societies worldwide, according to a large global modelling study spanning 204 countries and territories.
Economic Burden of Diabetes Extends Far Beyond Healthcare Budgets
Using a health-augmented macroeconomic model, researchers estimated the combined effects of diabetes-related mortality, morbidity, healthcare spending and informal caregiving between 2020 and 2050. Without accounting for informal care, diabetes was projected to cost the global economy more than 10 trillion USD over three decades. When unpaid caregiving by family and friends was included, the estimated burden rose dramatically to almost 79 trillion USD. The findings underline that diabetes is not only a clinical challenge but also a major driver of economic and social strain.
Why Informal Caregiving Dominates Global Diabetes Costs
A key insight from the analysis is the outsized contribution of informal caregiving costs to the overall economic impact. Time spent providing unpaid care translates into substantial losses in effective labour supply, particularly in working-age populations.
This has implications for clinical practice. Complications that reduce functional independence, such as advanced neuropathy, visual impairment, or renal disease, do not just affect individual quality of life but ripple outwards to families and economies. Interventions that delay or prevent these outcomes may yield benefits well beyond traditional health metrics.
Uneven Global Impact Highlights Prevention Priorities
While absolute costs were highest in populous countries such as the USA, China, and India, the global diabetes costs were proportionally greatest in smaller or higher-income settings, including American Samoa and Australia. This uneven distribution reflects differences in prevalence, population age structures, labour markets and access to care.
This reinforces the importance of tailoring prevention and management strategies to local contexts. Early diagnosis, effective risk stratification and sustained glycaemic control remain central, but broader social determinants of health also influence long-term outcomes.
Reference
Chen S et al. The global macroeconomic burden of diabetes mellitus. Nat Med. 2025; DOI:10.1038/s41591-025-04027-5.
