In observance of World Diabetes Day today, various organisations, including the Bangladesh Diabetes Association, are holding awareness events nationwide. With the theme "Diabetes: Let Healthy Living Be Our Commitment," this year's focus highlights the importance of adopting lifestyle changes to prevent and manage diabetes. Bangladesh Diabetes Association reports that between 6 and 14 percent of pregnant women in Bangladesh have diabetes, with around 50 percent of those with gestational diabetes at risk of developing type-2 later in life.

Additionally, children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing diabetes in the future. Currently, about 43.5 percent of diabetics in Bangladesh remain undiagnosed, and the disease accounts for roughly 10 percent of all deaths in the country, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

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. ----------------- Experts warn that diabetes, often termed a "silent killer," is a chronic disease that can be prevented or managed with lifestyle adjustments. Maintaining controlled habits significantly reduces the risk of complications.

Data from the National Diabetes Treatment Guideline, released last year, reveals that approximately 13.1 million people in Bangladesh have diabetes, affecting 14.2 percent of those aged 20-80.

Bangladesh ranks eighth globally in terms of diabetes prevalence, and projections suggest that by 2045, the number of diabetics in the country could rise to 22.3 million..