Diabetes in India: a long way to go

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a major lifestyle disease is undoubtedly the most challenging public health problem of 21 st century with a worldwide prevalence of 387 million (8.3%) and predicted to be 592 million by 2035. 77% of people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries. India, once known as the ‘diabetes capital of the world’ was home to 61.3 million patients with T2DM in 2011 with predictions of 101.2 million diabetics by 2030. India is second only to China which is home to 92.3 million diabetics. The International Diabetes Federation estimated a doubling of diabetic population between 1995 and 2005, and predicted 70 million diabetics by 2025.