A behind-the-genes look at Diabetes in India

A Behind-the-Genes Look at Diabetes in India

This World Diabetes Day (November 14), India ranks high in the list of developing countries with the greatest number of people affected with diabetes. Estimates from the World Diabetes Atlas and WHO records place India in the top ten countries in the world with the highest burden of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D).

• Projected numbers for diabetes in the Indian population: 87 million by 2030

• India is already considered the diabetes capital of the world

• Indians develop diabetes at a younger age and at lower BMI levels compared to Western populations

The Genetic Angle

Type 2 diabetes is a complex, multifactorial disease — influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Indians carry a unique genetic risk profile for T2D that differs significantly from European populations. Key genetic variants associated with T2D risk in Indians include those affecting insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and beta-cell function.

Family history is one of the strongest risk factors for T2D. If one parent has T2D, your lifetime risk is approximately 40%. If both parents have T2D, your risk rises to 70%. But genetics is not destiny — lifestyle interventions can delay or prevent the onset of T2D even in high-risk individuals.

What You Can Do

• Know your genetic risk — understanding your predisposition allows you to take targeted preventive action

• Maintain a healthy weight — even modest weight loss (5–10%) significantly reduces T2D risk in high-risk individuals

• Stay active — 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week reduces T2D risk by up to 58% in high-risk individuals

• Eat a balanced diet — reduce refined carbohydrates, increase fibre, and choose low-glycaemic-index foods

• Get regular screenings — fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profiles should be part of your annual health check