Like many low-income countries, India has struggled to battle its diabetes epidemic, particularly over the last decade, with some areas in India such as Goa having an alarming prevalence of 26.4% in 2021. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77 million people are suffering from diabetes. About 12.1 million of these individuals are 65 or younger, which should rise to a figure of 27.5 million by 2045. Therefore, meaning India has the second highest prevalence of diabetes, lagging just behind China. 

As its population continues to grow, the diabetes epidemic across India’s 1.42 billion population remains a concern. With this in mind, the government of India and other organizations have developed initiatives to alleviate the diabetes epidemic in India and create better health outcomes in the country. 

Defining Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is defined as a chronic, metabolic disease, which is characterized by higher levels of blood sugar. Diabetes prevents or restricts the pancreas from producing the hormone insulin. 

Insulin maintains the human body’s blood sugar level, which is important for human processes, such as metabolism, to ensure the body has enough energy. The pancreas produces insulin to regulate the amount of sugar, or glucose, the body requires; the body stores the remaining amounts of glucose.  

Without the pancreas producing insulin or becoming resistant to insulin, excess amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream. This can lead to significant damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves over time. 

Diabetes in India

According to a 2017 report by the Indian Council for Medical Research, diabetes prevalence has rocketed by 64% over the last 25 years. The cause for this diabetes epidemic in India may be perhaps due to a lack of awareness surrounding lifestyle choices and optimal diets. 

The increase in diabetes incidence is not only indicative of an aging population, it also represents lifestyle changes that are linked to increased wealth which impacts every age group. Those on higher incomes have more accessibility in terms of incorporating processed food, containing high levels of salt into their diets. 

A 2023 report published by Nature highlights that diabetes prevalence significantly increased in richer areas, such as Goa with a 26.4% prevalence, in comparison to poorer states like Uttar Pradesh with a 4.8% prevalence. 

The article also touches on increased prevalence when going from those without formal education to those with higher levels of education; those from urban areas are more likely to have diabetes than those from rural areas.

An analysis reveals that awareness, treatment and control of diabetes are lower among the impoverished and less educated people in India. For those living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment and health care is essential to manage the disease. Logistics issues, lack of diabetic medications and sub-optimal public health care systems can also contribute to the unknown diabetes ratio in rural areas. 

Those from lower-income backgrounds also have trouble controlling and managing diabetes, due to a lack of awareness surrounding symptoms linked to diabetes, notes leading diabetologist V Mohan in an interview from July 2017.

“Before knowledge and awareness levels improve across India, the disease is likely to spread across these communities,” he said.

Furthermore, the current trends in India show that the diabetes epidemic will continue to grow, however, this is preventable through dietary adaptations and education. Treatments such as insulin and other anti-diabetic medications are costly, therefore it is crucial that emphasis is placed on prevention. 

The Impact of Diabetes Continues Across Generations 

Studies have recognized that Indians have higher insulin resistance due to an inherent genetic predisposition, increased disease incidence and lower body mass index. Despite healthier behaviors in terms of smoking and exercise, a higher prevalence of diabetes is reported among Indians living in the United States due to higher levels of obesity. 

A 20-year longitudinal study based in the United Kingdom notes that diabetes prevalence is three times higher in Indians compared to their European counterparts. Likewise, a high prevalence of diabetes in immigrant Indians was reported in a study investigating diabetes among communities living in Singapore.  

These studies suggest a growing challenge and represent a public health challenge to tackle insulin resistance and the diabetes epidemic in many Indians globally.

Organizations Addressing Diabetes in India

One organization helping alleviate the diabetes epidemic in India is the Nityaasha Foundation. The organization was established in 2013 and focuses on individuals from lower-income backgrounds who are suffering from diabetes. Most families they provide support to are illiterate and daily wage workers. 

The Niytaasha Foundation has a mission to “bestow healthy life by fulfilling the medical needs of the underprivileged through holistic support.” One way the Foundation meets this mission is by providing free medical aid, such as insulin and glucose meters, along with diet and social counseling. They also monitor health on a regular basis as well as aiming to provide educational sessions. 

Currently, the Niytaasha Foundation helps 130 type 1 children, of which 70% of children come from rural areas. 

Diabetes in India is a persistent, ongoing issue impacting many Indians around the globe. Despite there being a need for better public health care systems in India, organizations such as the Niytaasha Foundation aim to improve the health outcomes for many patients suffering from diabetes in India.

– Rupinder Kaur
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