Diabetes in India: Almost 20% of Indians aged 45 and above were living with diabetes in 2019, and two in every five may not even know they have the condition, according to a large nationwide study published in The Lancet Global Health.
The research, led by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, along with US collaborators, analysed data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), which surveyed nearly 60,000 adults between 2017 and 2019. It found that diabetes prevalence was almost identical among men and women, but twice as high in urban areas compared to rural ones. States with stronger economies showed the highest rates, with a third or more of older adults affected.
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Researchers from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and US institutions estimated that approximately 50.4 million Indians in this age group have diabetes. The researchers warned that, as India’s population ages rapidly, the total number of middle-aged and older adults with diabetes will continue to grow, even if age-specific prevalence can be stabilised.
Among those aware of their condition, 46% had controlled their blood sugar levels, while about 60% had managed to control their blood pressure. However, only 6% of Indians were taking lipid-lowering medication to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease..
The study noted that urbanisation, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle changes are driving higher prevalence, with India still in a stage of “nutrition transition” where wealthier groups are more affected. Researchers also reported wide state-level variation in diabetes rates, underscoring the need for targeted prevention and management strategies.
The results suggest that, “in the coming years, the total number of middle-aged and older adults with diabetes will increase even if the rise in age-specific diabetes prevalence can be halted.”
