Diabetes is becoming a global health crisis, and shockingly, almost half of the world’s diabetics don’t even know they have it. A new analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology reveals that 44% of people with diabetes were undiagnosed in 2023.

The study, part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, looked at data from 204 countries between 2000 and 2023. In India, 43.6% of people with diabetes were diagnosed in 2023, better than in 2000, but still far from enough. While 97% of those diagnosed in India are under treatment, many still struggle to keep blood sugar levels under control.

By 2050, 1.3 billion people could be living with diabetes. Without timely diagnosis, this could quietly turn into a global epidemic. Wealthier regions like North America and Asia-Pacific are doing better in detection and treatment, but countries in sub-Saharan Africa face the largest diagnosis gaps, with fewer than 20% aware of their condition.

Experts say more investment in screening, especially among youth, and better access to medicines and glucose-monitoring tools are urgently needed. The World Health Organisation’s 2030 target: 80% of diabetics diagnosed and effectively treated.