India’s silent diabetes crisis: Why so many people are suffering from prediabetes without knowing it india news

Last updated:December 01, 2025, 10:22 IST

One of the simplest ways to prevent progress is to make small, steady adjustments rather than dramatic, short-term efforts.

Diabetes numbers are rising in India, but real change is already happening. An increasing number of adults now fall into the “prediabetes” category – a stage that most people ignore and often do not take seriously. What makes this phase important is not only that it is the first sign of metabolic trouble, but that it is still reversible, and only for a short period of time. The latest scientific evidence shows that prediabetes is not a slow or harmless warning sign – it is a period of quiet metabolic changes that predisposes many people to diabetes unless they act during this limited period.

What new research shows about this early stage

Prediabetes is often treated as a mild warning sign, something that may or may not turn into diabetes in the coming years. The new findings challenge that view. They show that prediabetes behaves less like a buffer zone and more like an active infection. Many Indians who start with normal sugar levels gradually fall into the prediabetic category without any symptoms.

The surprising thing is how quickly this happens. There is usually no pain, discomfort, or major changes that indicate trouble. Life continues as normal while blood sugar slowly rises upward.

An Indian study, titled “Transition between prediabetic and diabetic stages in an urban community in India: a decade-long retrospective cohort study” has helped to clarify this progress. It followed adults for nearly a decade and found a steady movement from normal sugar to prediabetes and then from prediabetes to diabetes.

Among those who were already in the prediabetic range, diabetes rates more than doubled compared to those who started out at normal levels. Yet the study also showed something promising: In the first two to three years after entering the prediabetic stage, people have the strongest chance of returning to normal. This period – before metabolic changes begin – is when the body is most reactive. After that, reversal becomes very difficult. The idea that “a little more sugar” can be ignored for a few years is why many people miss the opportunity to change things. Additionally, it showed that men were more likely to progress to diabetes, while women had greater prediabetes reversal.

Another set of findings from the United States, published in JAMA titled “Demographics, lifestyle, comorbidities, prediabetes, and mortality,” adds to this understanding. A large survey of adults found that prediabetes is not limited to older age groups; It is also common among people in their twenties, thirties and forties – this trend is now being seen much more aggressively in India. It also states that prediabetes is associated with early onset of health conditions and death.

More importantly, young adults with prediabetes had a higher long-term health risk than their peers with normal glucose levels.

“Analyses showed that prediabetes was significantly associated with mortality only among young adults (ages 20–54 years), highlighting the importance of age-specific interventions,” the study said. The study notes that lifestyle behaviors, limited health care access and quality of life challenges may contribute to increased mortality risk among young adults. “The early-onset health problems in this group may also reflect stronger genetic predispositions, causing the disease to progress more rapidly and have more serious health consequences.”

Although this research comes from a different population, it is highly relevant to India as metabolic problems often start earlier here. In a country where many young adults already live with stress, irregular routines and an urban lifestyle, the idea that early sugar changes have long-term consequences should not be ignored.

By combining the two latest researches published in the last six months, a clearer picture of prediabetes has been presented. It is neither a stable nor a slow moving state. This is a turning point. If people intervene quickly they either return to normal, or if they wait too long they progress rapidly towards diabetes. This phase does not allow an indefinite period of time for action.

Doctors also agree with the findings.

Dr Rajiv Jayadevan, gastroenterologist and former president of the Indian Medical Association Cochin, said, “The burden of diabetes in India is very high. People who are inactive, eat carbohydrate-rich foods and carry excess weight – especially belly fat, or have a family history of the disease, are at higher risk. Diabetes is not just about high blood sugar; without proper control it can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, blood vessels and even the brain.”

“The risk of diabetes increases with BMI, the ratio of height and weight. But in India, even people with a relatively low BMI are developing diabetes. This is because many Indians have a high proportion of body fat – particularly visceral fat around the abdomen – despite appearing to have a normal body weight.”

Endocrinologist Dr Sambit Dash agreed that early detection always helps. “We need more and better screening.”

How can you prevent going into diabetes

Understanding what studies show is only useful if it leads to practical action. The most important message for you is that early sugar changes are not a cause for panic but a call for timely response. Since prediabetes is mainly reversible within the first few years, awareness becomes a tool for prevention.

People often believe that diabetes starts only when blood sugar crosses a particular number. The truth is that the journey begins much earlier, and the first step offers the best opportunity to change direction.

One of the simplest ways to prevent progress is to make small, steady adjustments rather than dramatic, short-term efforts. Studies underline that when improvements to basic routine are made quickly the body responds strongly to them. Regular meals, adequate sleep, manageable stress, and even a modest increase in daily activity help stabilize glucose levels before they rise more rapidly. Most importantly, these changes are much more effective in the prediabetic stage than after diabetes develops.

Initial testing is equally important. Many Indians discover high sugar levels only after 40, often during company health checkups or when they start feeling unusually tired. But research shows that testing earlier – especially for people with a family history, high body weight or sedentary lifestyle – makes a real difference. Even when caught in the prediabetic stage by rising glucose levels, the body is resilient. When they are discovered later, the window for easy reversal has already closed.

Another key factor is follow-up. Prediabetes is not something to be tested for once a year and then forgotten. The first two to three years after entering this range are important, and monitoring during this period helps in ascertaining whether the body is improving or progressing. It does not require special clinics or complicated plans. It just takes frequent check-ins and small fixes before problems escalate.

The research also highlights the psychological change that India needs. Diabetes is often seen as inevitable – a familial trait, a by-product of aging, or something that will happen to everyone eventually. This belief undermines initial action. Prediabetes should instead be understood as the end point at which the body is actively asking for help and is still able to respond to it.

In short, acting during this phase doesn’t mean giving up favorite foods or making extreme lifestyle changes. This means recognizing that the body is at a crossroads and giving it the support it needs to move in the right direction.

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