4-MIN READ4-MINAdvertising partnerPublished: 9:00am, 12 Jun 2026[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
Nearly one in ten people in Hong Kong now live with diabetes, and the city’s burden is growing. An ageing population, shifting lifestyles, and a substantial number of undiagnosed cases have combined to make diabetes an increasingly urgent public-health challenge2,3. For people with diabetes (PwD) the condition is a daily physical reality, but its wider consequences are less visible: diabetes steadily erodes mental and emotional wellbeing, and stigma and social barriers compound patients’ struggles.
To quantify these hidden burdens, Roche commissioned a global online study last year that surveyed 4,326 PwD and 11,984 people without diabetes across 22 countries and regions, including Hong Kong1. The study maps the everyday physical and psychological costs of living with diabetes, documents social stigma, and gauges patient appetite for medical and digital solutions that could ease both clinical and emotional strain.
The daily mental load
Fatigue and disrupted sleep amplify the psychological burden. 71 percent of PwD often feel tired because of their condition; many report difficulties falling asleep and trouble relaxing before bed1. These concerns are practical as well as existential: independence, long-term health decline, and the ability to plan a life without constant medical interruption weigh heavily on patients’ minds.
Education, empathy, and practical support
The survey points to a clear remedy: better public education and workplace understanding. Practical, targeted education can reduce stigma and ease daily life. Schools, employers, and community organisations can offer concise training that emphasises empathy, reasonable accommodations, and flexible policies so PwD feel included rather than isolated. Families and friends matter: emotional support from close circles, combined with clinicians trained to address psychological as well as physical needs, helps patients voice worries they may not share elsewhere. Framing diabetes as a whole-life condition rather than a private failing is essential to shifting public attitudes.
Technology, integration, and a path to confidence
Next Steps: Scaling Support and AI Solutions for Hong Kong’s PwD
Ronald Lo, General Manager of Roche Diagnostics (Hong Kong), has highlighted the need for society to shift diabetes care from disease treatment to mental wellbeing.
“The message is straightforward: when society recognises diabetes as a condition that touches every part of life, not just a clinical problem to be managed in isolation, the mental and emotional burdens on PwD can be shared. With better education, smarter technologies, and workplaces and communities that adapt, people with diabetes in Hong Kong can expect not only improved health outcomes but fuller, less anxious lives.”
Roche’s global leadership in tailored diagnostic innovation and its commitment to local action positions it to help drive that change—translating data into predictive alerts that restore dignity, reduce stigma, and give patients the practical tools and social support they need to thrive.
About Roche
Since our founding almost 130 years ago in Basel, Switzerland, Roche has grown into one of the world’s largest healthcare and biotech companies. We combine life-changing diagnostics and medicines to take on the toughest healthcare challenges, those that place the greatest strain on patients, families, communities and health systems. Guided by the experiences of patients, we are determined to prevent, stop and cure diseases so people can live healthier, longer lives.
The information provided by Roche is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding your medical condition.
