Why diabetes is common nowadays?

Diabetes in India is a growing health concern, with over half the population at risk of developing the condition at some point in their lives.

According to one 2021 Source, people who live in cities and metropolitan areas in India are more likely to develop diabetes than ever before. This is due, in part, to cities promoting a lifestyle that can increase a person’s body mass index (BMI). Having a higher BMI is a diabetes risk factor.

Rural areas in India are also experiencing a surge trusted Source in type 2 diabetes cases, but more studies are necessary to fully understand how and why this is happening.

Keep reading to learn more about diabetes in India, including prevalence, some reasons it is so common, and more.
In India, more than 77 million adults trusted Source are living with diabetes. Researchers predict that this will increase to 134 million by 2045.

Overall, females have a higher risk of developing diabetes than males, but as both groups get older, this risk decreases.

Although diabetes figures are high, researchers estimate that 57% of cases remain undiagnosed. This is particularly concerning, as the risk of serious complications increases when people do not take medication to control their blood sugar.

REASON
Changes in farming practices
Government shops, or fair price shops, are a type of public distribution system that offers rural communities low cost food to improve people’s nutritional health. These foods include white rice, wheat, sugar, and pulses.

Sweet cuisines
The consumption of sugary sweets is a staple of Indian culture and an integral part of ancient traditions and religious festivals.

According to one study from 2014Trusted Source, due to increasing urbanization, people are adopting more sedentary lifestyles as well as consuming more calorie dense sugary foods and drinks.

In cities, sugary drinks and sweetened foods are cheap and readily available, which is increasing people’s risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Social stress
Many people report that stress or tension was the cause of their diabetes.

A qualitative study from 2012Trusted Source found that people in middle-to-high-earning economic groups reported that social stress, such as saving for a dowry, contributed to their diabetes. However, those with lower incomes tended not to share this belief.

As Indian doctors talk more about social stress as a risk factor for diabetes than those in the United States, these beliefs likely originate from information that people receive at healthcare consultations.