The association notes that half of these people are unaware that they are sick or at risk of developing the disease.
Diabetes is a silent and potentially fatal disease that can go unnoticed for many years. Patients often only become aware of their condition after experiencing irreversible damage to the kidneys, eyes, feet, or other organs.

Globally, the Health Ministry reports that approximately half a billion people live with diabetes. This is not only a medical issue but also requires public awareness, empathy, and social support.
Diabetes has two main types: Type 1, caused by genetic factors and usually diagnosed in younger individuals, and Type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, which is generally linked to an unhealthy lifestyle, sedentary habits, and the stress of urban living.

To raise awareness, Iran’s Health Ministry has designated November 9–14 as Diabetes Week. This year’s program focused on themes such as “Diabetes and Education,” “Diabetes and Media,” “Diabetes and Effective Policy-Making,” “Diabetes and Nutrition,” “Diabetes and the Workplace,” and “Diabetes and Physical Activity.”
However, societal realities show that these symbolic efforts have not been entirely effective, as the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise despite increasing public education.

A disease that steals years of life

The growing number of people diagnosed with diabetes, along with the declining age of onset, highlights poor awareness, the harms of urban lifestyles, high consumption of fatty and sugary foods, and rising obesity rates—all of which outweigh current educational and preventive programs.
The Health Ministry emphasizes that diabetes affects people at every stage of life, including childhood, childbearing age, working age, and old age.

Seven out of ten people diagnosed with diabetes are of working age. Moreover, three out of four diabetic individuals suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.
Dr. Asadollah Rajab notes that diabetes prevalence is higher in large cities due to a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, high fast-food consumption, and urban stress. “One in three adults in large cities has diabetes or is pre-diabetic, and half of them are unaware of their condition. A significant proportion of patients admitted to hospitals for heart disease—especially those over 45—are also diabetic.”

“The CBC index indicates a person’s health status. A fasting CBC under 100 is considered normal, and two hours after eating, blood sugar should not exceed 140,” he explained.
“If a person’s fasting blood sugar is between 100–126, and it rises to 200 after eating, that individual is considered pre-diabetic.”