India’s Diabetes Crisis Deepens: Are We Prepared?

• Written by Yash

  Reviewed by Ritika Malik

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India is facing an escalating diabetes crisis, with new data revealing alarming trends across age groups and even among pregnant women. Recent findings show that diabetes now affects 17% of Indians, placing it among the top five lifestyle ailments in the country. Experts warn that the rapid rise is driven by sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, stress, and genetic vulnerability, turning India into a global diabetes hotspot.

In a concerning development, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that 1 in 6 pregnancies is now affected by diabetes , which includes both gestational diabetes and pre-existing diabetes in expectant mothers. This increases the risk of complications such as hypertension, premature birth, and future diabetes in both the mother and child. WHO has urged countries to strengthen screening, improve awareness among women of reproductive age, and ensure better access to antenatal care and nutritional guidance.

The increasing number is more worrying among younger populations. A growing number of studies indicate that 18% of young adults in India already have diabetes, an age group previously considered at low risk. Doctors attribute this trend to lifestyle changes, including the consumption of processed foods, a lack of physical activity, prolonged sitting hours, disrupted sleep cycles, and increased stress levels. Early-onset diabetes significantly increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and chronic complications later in life.

Experts Warn of Interconnected Trends

Health experts warn that these three developments are interconnected: rising diabetes among adults increases the likelihood of gestational diabetes, while early onset among youth signals a future surge in complications and healthcare burden. Public health authorities are calling for urgent measures, including nationwide screening, lifestyle education, accessible treatment, and stronger preventive healthcare.

As India continues to modernise and urbanise, the diabetes epidemic is emerging as a critical challenge, one that requires immediate attention, long-term policy changes, and widespread community awareness to prevent a looming health catastrophe.

As diabetes cases surge across all age groups, India’s growing burden is becoming impossible to overlook. With rising cases among youth and even pregnant women, the situation signals a rapidly worsening health crisis. This trend raises a crucial question: as diabetes spreads faster than expected, is India prepared for what lies ahead?