50% surge in diabetes in individuals under 40 yrs of age, say experts

Prevalence of diabetes no longer confined to just older demographics, Vitamin B12 deficiency may be a cause

There has been a 50 per cent jump in the prevalence of diabetes among individuals under 40 in recent years in India, according to an expert.

Speaking at a recent health forum hosted by Practo, Hema Venkataraman, a consultant endocrinologist of the NHS, UK, and medical advisor, Practo Transform, said: “The prevalence of diabetes is 11 per cent all across India and (it) is no longer confined to just older demographics. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has surged among young individuals under 35, experiencing a 50 per cent increase in incidence from 2002 to 2016.”

A new study by diagnostic service provider Metropolis Healthcare has found nearly 39 per cent of the adult population in India is diabetic, and an even higher number — 40.31 per cent — are pre-diabetic, showing a rise from previous years.

Venkataraman added: “The lifetime risk of diabetes in Indian adults over 20 years of age is estimated to be well over 50 per cent, and this risk is much higher with advancing age and obesity. Diabetes prevalence is higher in men than in women, just over 7 per cent in men compared to just over 5 per cent in women.”

Kirti Chadha, chief scientific officer, Metropolis Healthcare, stated: “Many patients are unaware of their diabetes status, which silently affects vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas. According to the International Diabetes Federation, seven in 10 diabetics are diagnosed as a result of complications and our Metropolis study also shows similar trends.”

In a recent media briefing at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, Urmila Anandh, head of the department, nephrology, said: “Twenty-five to 30 per cent of individuals less than 40 have diabetes. Therefore, early detection is vital because the effects could be adverse for an individual’s kidneys and the heart.”

Addressing another dimension of the issue, Vaishali Deshmukh, consultant and head of the endocrinology department at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, stated: “Vitamin B12 deficiency has been found to increase susceptibility to insulin resistance, a key factor in the development of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. It is estimated that up to 90 per cent of the Indian population may be deficient in B12, with only 20-25 per cent having normal B12 levels.”