The findings have significantly surpassed previous estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), which had approximated 77 million cases of diabetes and 25 million cases of pre-diabetes in India.

More than 100 million people in India, accounting for 11.4 percent of the population, are living with diabetes, a study published in The Lancet has revealed.

According to the study, conducted over a decade by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an additional 136 million individuals, or 15.3 percent of the population, are in a pre-diabetic state, putting them at higher risk of developing diabetes in the near future.

This groundbreaking study, which involved 113,000 participants, aged 20 and above, from every state in India, represents the first comprehensive assessment of non-communicable diseases across the country.

The findings have significantly surpassed previous estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), which had approximated 77 million cases of diabetes and 25 million cases of pre-diabetes in India.

Dr. RM Anjana, the lead author of the study and managing director at Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, described the situation as a “ticking time bomb” due to the rapid progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes among the Indian population. She emphasized that over 60 percent of people with pre-diabetes eventually develop diabetes within five years.

The study revealed a varying prevalence of diabetes across different states, with the highest rates observed in Goa (26.4 percent), Puducherry (26.3 percent), and Kerala (25.5 percent). The research also cautioned against a potential surge in diabetes cases in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Arunachal Pradesh, where the prevalence has been relatively lower but shows an increasing trend.

Moreover, the study found that diabetes is more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural regions. This finding highlights the influence of lifestyle factors and underscores the need for targeted interventions and awareness campaigns in urban settings.

Diabetes is a serious condition associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, vision loss, kidney failure, and limb amputations. While there are various forms of diabetes, type 2 diabetes is the most common and is often linked to lifestyle factors, although genetics and ethnicity also play a role.

Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s insulin-producing cells, leading to insufficient insulin production and elevated blood sugar levels.

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