Healthcare experts warn of rising diabetes and metabolic disease rates

Health professionals in Kenya and India are raising alarms regarding the rising incidence and lack of diagnosis of metabolic disorders, particularly diabetes.

In Kenya, medical experts warned that more than half of the population living with diabetes remains undiagnosed. During a clinical forum in Nairobi, clinicians noted that the country’s metabolic disease burden is projected to double by 2050. Many patients currently only enter the healthcare system after suffering complications in the heart, kidneys, liver, or eyesight, which increases the complexity and cost of treatment. Experts highlighted a significant gap in access to both diagnosis and treatment.

In India, pediatricians and neonatologists at the PAEDS 2026 conference expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of diabetes and endocrine disorders among children and adolescents. Specialists attributed the rise in lifestyle-related disorders to changing dietary habits and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Medical experts emphasized the necessity of early recognition, timely intervention, and long-term monitoring to prevent significant impacts on a child’s growth and development.