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Indian Express
7 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: What Lancet study reveals about Diabetes in India and why it matters for UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget on the recent Lancet study on diabetes in India. (Relevance: These studies in the context of India are significant as India is suffering from the double burden of malnutrition and rising obesity. These studies provide a broader understanding of the problem and can be used for value addition in your Mains answer. ) According to a new paper published in 'The Lancet Global Health' journal, at least one in five people aged 45 and older had diabetes in India in 2019. Significantly, two out of five people with diabetes (or 40 per cent of those diagnosed) were unaware of their condition. 1. The Lancet paper is based on the findings from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) that surveyed nearly 60,000 adults in India aged 45 years and older between 2017 and 2019 to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of diabetes. 2. According to the study, an estimated 20 million Indians have undiagnosed diabetes. Overall, eight per cent of the elderly (60-plus) subjects have been found to be undiagnosed. 3. The study also found that rates of diabetes were similar among men and women (19.6 per cent of men vs 20.1 per cent of women). Urban diabetes prevalence (30 per cent) was approximately twice as high as rural prevalence (15 per cent). 4. The study also provides updated evidence on the patterns of diabetes within India. States in southern India tend to have a higher rate of diabetes after adjusting for age, while others in central and northeastern India have a lower rate. 5. The states with the highest age-adjusted diabetes rates among adults aged 45 and above were Chandigarh (36.9 per cent), Kerala (36.0 per cent) and Puducherry (36 per cent). The states with the largest number of adults having diabetes were Tamil Nadu (6.1 million people), Maharashtra (5.8 million people) and Uttar Pradesh (4.7 million people). 1. Diabetes mellitus is one of the endocrine diseases that is caused due to inadequate secretion of the hormone insulin from the pancreas. Lack of insulin causes an increase in sugar in our body, leading to the condition called diabetes mellitus. (NCERT) 2. Until recently, most children and adolescents with diabetes were thought to have Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes. However, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM Type 2) among children is now being increasingly reported from several parts of the world. (NCERT) 3. Adolescents who are obese are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes which is manifested as high blood sugar. 4. To tackle this, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently directed its affiliated schools to establish sugar boards to monitor and reduce sugar intake in children. The board noted a significant increase in type 2 diabetes among children over the past decade. 1. GLP-1 is both an incretin hormone and a neurotransmitter. In physiology, it is secreted from the small intestine and from the hindbrain after we eat a meal. It travels to the pancreas, where it helps to regulate our blood sugar by increasing insulin and decreasing glucagon. This is what we call the incretin effect. 2. This effect is blood glucose-dependent, meaning it is only if the blood glucose is elevated that it has an effect here. GLP-1's effects in the pancreas and brain are the important ones to help control blood glucose and body weight. 3. The reason natural GLP-1 is so short-lived is that it is chopped up by metabolic enzymes known as DPP-4 and cleared by the kidneys. 4. The drugs used for the treatment of diabetes belong to a class of medicines called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. Semaglutide and tirzepatide both mimic the action of GLP-1. Tirzepatide additionally also mimics the action of another hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). 5. These drugs work by improving the secretion of insulin that allows more of the glucose in the bloodstream to enter cells where it can be used for energy, and inhibiting the secretion of the hormone glucagon that stimulates the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream. 6. These drugs work to slow down the emptying of the stomach so that the glucose levels in the bloodstream don't spike and reduce appetite by signalling to the brain that one is satiated. Obesity, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that poses health risks. A person with a BMI of less than 18.5 is considered to be underweight, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered to be normal, those with BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered to be overweight, while those with BMI over 30 are considered to be obese. This year, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has officially recognised Type 5 diabetes as a distinct form of the disease. It is a form of diabetes affecting lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low- and middle-income countries. Type 5 diabetes causes pancreatic beta cells to function abnormally, leading to insufficient production of insulin. In Type 2, the body resists insulin action despite producing it. Consider the following statements: 1. Diabetes mellitus is one of the exocrine diseases caused due to inadequate secretion of the hormone insulin. 2. GLP-1 is both an incretin hormone and a neurotransmitter. Which of the above-mentioned statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Source: One in 5 older Indian adults had diabetes in 2019, says Lancet study: Should there be universal screening?, What's Type 5 diabetes that has been recognised after decades all about?, How GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide have revolutionised obesity treatment, NCERT) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
New Indian Express
08-08-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Data from India's ageing study suggests one-fifth of those aged 45 and above had diabetes in 2019
NEW DELHI: About a fifth of those aged 45 and above were living with diabetes in 2019, with two in every five possibly unaware of their condition, according to data from a study among India's ageing adults. Findings published in The Lancet Global Health also suggest that as the country's population rapidly ages, diabetes cases among the middle-aged and older adults will increase, even if increase in prevalence of the condition in age-specific groups can be arrested, authors said. Researchers, including those from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and US, also found that 46 per cent of those aware of their diabetes regained a control over blood sugar levels, while around 60 per cent were able to control their blood pressure the same year. Six per cent were taking a lipid-lowering medication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the team said. The 'Longitudinal Aging Study in India' (LASI), which surveyed about 60,000 adults aged 45 and above during 2017-2019 (Wave 1), found prevalence of the metabolic condition was similar among men and women (nearly 20 per cent) and that in urban areas was twice, compared to prevalence in rural ones. Further, states that were economically more developed tended to have a greater prevalence of diabetes, with about a third or more having diabetes in the states where prevalence was highest, the researchers said. "Our study provides updated, nationally representative, and state-representative estimates of diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control using glycaeted haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations among middle-aged and older adults in India," they wrote. The team "found that approximately one in five people aged 45 years and older had diabetes (50.4 million individuals), that variation across states was wide, and that urban diabetes prevalence was twice as high as rural prevalence."
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Data from India's ageing study suggests one-fifth of those aged 45 and above had diabetes in 2019
New Delhi: About a fifth of those aged 45 and above were living with diabetes in 2019, with two in every five possibly unaware of their condition, according to data from a study among India's ageing adults. Findings published in The Lancet Global Health also suggest that as the country's population rapidly ages, diabetes cases among the middle-aged and older adults will increase, even if increase in prevalence of the condition in age-specific groups can be arrested, authors said. Researchers, including those from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and US, also found that 46 per cent of those aware of their diabetes regained a control over blood sugar levels, while around 60 per cent were able to control their blood pressure the same year. Six per cent were taking a lipid-lowering medication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the team said. The ' Longitudinal Aging Study in India ' (LASI), which surveyed about 60,000 adults aged 45 and above during 2017-2019 (Wave 1), found prevalence of the metabolic condition was similar among men and women (nearly 20 per cent) and that in urban areas was twice, compared to prevalence in rural ones. Further, states that were economically more developed tended to have a greater prevalence of diabetes, with about a third or more having diabetes in the states where prevalence was highest, the researchers said. "Our study provides updated, nationally representative, and state-representative estimates of diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control using glycaeted haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations among middle-aged and older adults in India," they wrote. The team "found that approximately one in five people aged 45 years and older had diabetes (50.4 million individuals), that variation across states was wide, and that urban diabetes prevalence was twice as high as rural prevalence." The authors added that compared to results from previous national surveys, such as the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study that spanned 2008-2020, findings from the LASI suggest a slightly higher achievement of glycaemic and blood pressure targets, but a lower achievement of lipid-lowering medication targets, among the population. The authors' findings support the notion that "India continues to be at a stage in the nutrition transition characterised by greatest diabetes prevalence among higher socioeconomic groups." Further, the results showing a greater prevalence of diabetes among the older age groups are important as the country's population ages rapidly, the team said. The results suggest that "in the coming years, the total number of middle-aged and older adults with diabetes will increase even if the rise in age-specific diabetes prevalence can be halted."
Indian Express
08-08-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
One in 5 older Indian adults had diabetes in 2019, says Lancet study: Should there be universal screening?
At least one in five people aged 45 and older had diabetes in India in 2019, according to a new paper published in 'The Lancet Global Health' journal. Significantly, two out of five people with diabetes (or 40 per cent of those diagnosed) were unaware of their condition. However, 46 per cent of the people identified regained control of their blood sugar levels, 59 per cent achieved blood pressure control and six per cent took a lipid-lowering medication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 'Moving forward with the epidemiological transition and economic development, we anticipate that this trend will continue,' Dr T V Sekher, Professor at International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and one of the principal authors of the study, told The Indian Express. 'Only about half of these people are aware of their condition and even fewer achieve targets for glycaemic control, blood pressure control and use of lipid-lowering medications. Our findings emphasise the urgent need to scale up policies to better prevent, detect, manage and control diabetes among middle-aged and older adults in India,' he said. The Lancet paper is based on the findings from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) that surveyed nearly 60,000 adults in India aged 45 years and older between 2017 and 2019 to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of diabetes. 'LASI is a nationally as well as state level representative survey and includes all health conditions of individuals. We were able to analyse them along with diabetes (like BMI, hypertension and so on). It has also analysed the difference between the self-reported and measured diabetes prevalence,' Dr Sekher said. What are findings? As per the findings, an estimated 20 million Indians have undiagnosed diabetes. Overall, eight per cent of the elderly (60-plus) subjects have been found to be undiagnosed. The prevalence of untreated diabetes among older adults (aged 45 and above) is five per cent and that of under-treated diabetes is 47 per cent. About 36 per cent are adequately treated. The study also found that rates of diabetes were similar among men and women (19.6 per cent of men vs 20.1 per cent of women). Urban diabetes prevalence (30 per cent) was approximately twice as high as rural prevalence (15 per cent). 'Around 60 per cent of individuals are aware of their diabetes. So there is a need for better awareness campaigns and universal screening for diabetes. The silver lining is that among those who are aware about their diabetes, LASI found that 94 per cent are undergoing treatment. This is the most important finding. Once people are aware, then treatment coverage is good,' Dr Sekher explained. What about state wise prevalence? The study also provides updated evidence on the patterns of diabetes within India. States in southern India tend to have a higher rate of diabetes after adjusting for age, while others in central and northeastern India have a lower rate. The states with the highest age-adjusted diabetes rates among adults aged 45 and above were Chandigarh (36.9 per cent), Kerala (36.0 per cent) and Puducherry (36 per cent). The states with the largest number of adults having diabetes were Tamil Nadu (6.1 million people), Maharashtra (5.8 million people) and Uttar Pradesh (4.7 million people). LASI used the blood samples for testing their HbA1c (an integrated measure of diabetes over the previous 90 days) in a laboratory (ICMR- NITVAR, Pune). This is a more accurate and appropriate method for testing diabetes compared to field-level testing of random glucose levels (most other large surveys used this method in India). Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
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Business Standard
08-08-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
One-fifth of Indians aged 45 and above had diabetes in 2019: Study
Findings published in The Lancet Global Health also suggest that as the country's population rapidly ages, diabetes cases among the middle-aged and older adults will increase Press Trust of India New Delhi About a fifth of those aged 45 and above were living with diabetes in 2019, with two in every five possibly unaware of their condition, according to data from a study among India's ageing adults. Findings published in The Lancet Global Health also suggest that as the country's population rapidly ages, diabetes cases among the middle-aged and older adults will increase, even if increase in prevalence of the condition in age-specific groups can be arrested, authors said. Researchers, including those from the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and US, also found that 46 per cent of those aware of their diabetes regained a control over blood sugar levels, while around 60 per cent were able to control their blood pressure the same year. Six per cent were taking a lipid-lowering medication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the team said. The 'Longitudinal Aging Study in India' (LASI), which surveyed about 60,000 adults aged 45 and above during 2017-2019 (Wave 1), found prevalence of the metabolic condition was similar among men and women (nearly 20 per cent) and that in urban areas was twice, compared to prevalence in rural ones. Further, states that were economically more developed tended to have a greater prevalence of diabetes, with about a third or more having diabetes in the states where prevalence was highest, the researchers said. "Our study provides updated, nationally representative, and state-representative estimates of diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control using glycaeted haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations among middle-aged and older adults in India," they wrote. The team "found that approximately one in five people aged 45 years and older had diabetes (50.4 million individuals), that variation across states was wide, and that urban diabetes prevalence was twice as high as rural prevalence." The authors added that compared to results from previous national surveys, such as the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study that spanned 2008-2020, findings from the LASI suggest a slightly higher achievement of glycaemic and blood pressure targets, but a lower achievement of lipid-lowering medication targets, among the population. The authors' findings support the notion that "India continues to be at a stage in the nutrition transition characterised by greatest diabetes prevalence among higher socioeconomic groups." Further, the results showing a greater prevalence of diabetes among the older age groups are important as the country's population ages rapidly, the team said. The results suggest that "in the coming years, the total number of middle-aged and older adults with diabetes will increase even if the rise in age-specific diabetes prevalence can be halted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
