Lancet Study: 4 in 10 diabetics in India don’t know they have the disease

A new study published in Lancet Global Health has revealed that nearly four in ten diabetics in India are unaware of their condition. The findings are based on an analysis of a survey conducted among 57,810 adults aged 45 years and above between 2017 and 2019. According to the study, 20% of adults in this age group have diabetes. “Prevalence among men and women was similar, at 20%,” it noted.

The research also highlighted that the prevalence of diabetes in urban areas is almost double that in rural regions, possibly due to differences in lifestyle and dietary habits. Conducted by researchers from the Mumbai-based International Institute of Population Sciences, the University of Michigan, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the study urges policymakers to strengthen efforts to prevent, detect, manage, and control diabetes among middle-aged and older populations.

India ranks second globally in the number of adults (aged 20–79 years) with diabetes, with the disease accounting for approximately 3% of all deaths in the country in 2019. Experts warn that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is also on the rise. They stress that early access to medicines for both conditions can help avert severe complications. However, studies suggest that rural healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate.


A recent survey by ICMR, WHO, and other institutions in 19 districts across seven states assessed how well community and primary health centres could handle diabetes and hypertension. Results showed that only about 40% of sub-centres (SCs) were equipped to treat these conditions, with many lacking even basic medicines.

Of the 105 SCs evaluated, nearly one-third experienced stockouts of tablet metformin (used for diabetes), while around 45% reported shortages of tablet amlodipine, prescribed for high blood pressure.

[With TOI inputs]