Diabetes is an insidious global threat. Rising obesity, urbanization, and the high cost of healthy living fuel an unprecedented surge in type 2 diabetes, especially in poorer countries. Many face diets dominated by affordable, highly-processed foods while struggling to afford better choices, with climate change worsening food insecurity. Access to diagnosis and treatment is also often limited, leaving millions undiagnosed or untreated, bearing heavy personal and economic burdens. Though effective medications exist, barriers to healthcare complicate their delivery.