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2mo ago

Nearly 20% of Indians Over 45 Had Diabetes in 2019, Lancet Study Reveals

Low diagnosis rates coupled with insufficient treatment control have prompted calls for expanded screening; experts say stronger policies are needed to curb surging diabetes in an ageing population.

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1 in 5 Indians Over 40 Had Diabetes in 2019, Reveals Lancet Report
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Overview

  • A nationally representative survey of 57,810 adults aged 45 and older across 36 states found a 19.8% diabetes prevalence in 2019, equating to 50.4 million people.
  • Forty percent of those living with diabetes were unaware of their condition, leaving an estimated 20 million middle-aged and older Indians undiagnosed.
  • Among diagnosed patients, 46% achieved target blood sugar levels, 59% controlled their blood pressure and only 6% were on lipid-lowering medication, falling short of WHO benchmarks.
  • Urban diabetes rates (30%) were twice those of rural areas (15%), with the highest age-adjusted prevalence in Chandigarh (36.9%), Kerala (36.0%) and Puducherry (36.0%).
  • Projections indicate that India’s rapidly ageing population will drive up total diabetes cases even if age-specific prevalence rates stabilize, underscoring the need for enhanced prevention and management strategies.