World Diabetes Day 2025: Diabetes has become extremely common these days. If sugar levels are not controlled, this disease quietly weakens the entire body. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, uncontrolled diabetes causes serious damage to nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications like heart attack, kidney failure, and vision loss. The situation in India is even worse.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF)’s 2025 Diabetes Atlas Report states that more than 100 million people in India suffer from diabetes, and half of them are unaware of the disease. Let us explain what problems poor sugar control causes in the body and how it impacts life.
This is the first problem
According to Dr. Shailaja Patil, a cardiologist at a renowned Mumbai hospital, high sugar levels increase cholesterol and high blood pressure and cause plaque to build up in the arteries. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Diabetics have a fourfold increased risk of heart attack. The IDF 2025 report states that 40% of diabetics in India have heart problems. The CDC 2025 report also states that hospitalizations for heart failure and stroke due to diabetes are steadily increasing.
Blood Vessels Get Damaged
Dr. Patil explained that diabetes increases the risk of kidney damage because high sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to protein in the urine. This can ultimately lead to dialysis. In fact, uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of kidney failure by up to five times. 25% of diabetic patients in India have chronic kidney disease. Initially, it causes swelling or fatigue, but ignoring it can ruin lives.
This problem occurs in the nerves
According to the doctor, high blood sugar causes nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugar reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, leading to tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. This pain can cause sleepless nights and increase the risk of infection.
Impact on Eyesight
Diabetes causes vision damage, or diabetic retinopathy. Sugar causes leaking of blood vessels in the retina, which can cause blurred vision or blindness. According to Dr. Patil, 20 percent of patients with uncontrolled diabetes suffer from vision loss. The ADA’s 2025 report states that early checkups can prevent 80 percent of cases. According to the IDF, 10 million people in India are affected by this condition.
Risk of Nerve Damage
The doctor explained that diabetes also increases the risk of foot ulcers. High blood sugar can damage nerves, and poor blood flow can cause wounds to heal poorly. This can lead to infection and amputation. Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of foot ulcers by 25 times. Patients with this condition often don’t feel the pain of burns or cuts on their feet, making the wound more serious.
