Tehran: Diabetes is a significant health challenge in Iran, affecting over 14% of the country's population, as revealed by Dr. Alireza Raeisi, Deputy Health Minister at Iran's Health Ministry. Speaking at the Diabetes Updates Seminar held at Tehran's Olympic Hotel, Raeisi disclosed that approximately 7.5 million Iranians are living with diabetes, with only 31% managing to keep their condition under control. Furthermore, 4.8 million individuals have access to diabetes treatment coverage. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Raeisi highlighted that 13.64 million Iranians are currently in the pre-diabetes stage. He emphasized the global impact of diabetes, noting that one in ten adults worldwide are living with the disease. Iran has been proactive in addressing this issue through a nationwide diabetes prevention program, which has been part of the health system since 2004. The program includes mandatory screenings every three years for individuals over the age of 30. The statistics further reveal a globa l disparity, with over three-quarters of adults with diabetes residing in low- and middle-income countries. In 2021, diabetes was responsible for 6.7 million deaths globally, equating to one death every five seconds. The financial burden of the disease is also staggering, with health expenditures reaching at least $966 billion, marking a 316% increase over the past 15 years.