World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14 across the globe, including India with an aim to increase awareness about the effects of diabetes and the complications caused by the disease.

Diabetes and stress appear to be linked in several important ways. According to Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey India Report, a U.S. based global health service leader, almost 82 percent of India's population are suffering from stress and those in the sandwich generation (aged 35-49) are most affected with around 89 percent reporting some level of stress. The major causes of stress in the country today are work, health, and finance related issues. India is deemed as the world's capital of diabetes. The diabetic population in the country is close to hitting the alarming mark of 69.9 million by 2025 and 80 million by 2030. The high level of stress further threatens increase in diabetic cases in the population.

The research has linked high levels of stress can lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The recent research suggests that people with depression and anxiety have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The scientists found that various stressors can increase a person's risk of developing diabetes, including stressful life events or traumatic experiences, general emotional stress, anger and hostility, work stress, distressed sleep. High levels of stress may cause a person to engage in unhealthful lifestyle habits. These lifestyle habits can increase a person's risk of developing diabetes. They include, eating a poor quality diet, low exercise levels, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption. Another explanation is that emotional stress can affect a person's hormone levels, potentially disrupting how well insulin works.

One in two people currently living with diabetes are undiagnosed. The vast majority of these have type 2 diabetes. Left untreated or unmanaged, diabetes can lead to life-changing complications. These include blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. Globally diabetes was responsible for four million deaths in 2017.