Diabetes burden among young Indians below the age of 35 years: A retrospective analysis of nationwide screening campaign

Abstract

Objective: Several studies have reported the rising prevalence of diabetes in young adults globally. ADA currently recommends routine screening for diabetes starting at the age of 35 years. Indians are known to develop diabetes at a younger age, although there is a scarcity of large studies looking at the prevalence of diabetes in Young Indians. Objective of the study was to assess prevalence of diabetes in young Indians below the age of 35 years. Methods: The data of 225,955 individuals from a nationwide screening campaign was analyzed for the prevalence of diabetes among individuals younger than 35 years. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes among those below 35 years, 30 years, and 25 years of age was found to be 17.9%, 13.3%, and 9.8% respectively. Among those with a family history of diabetes, the prevalence was as high as 40.1%, 31.8%, and 26.4% respectively. Conclusions: The current study highlights a very high prevalence of diabetes in young Indians. It might be worth considering screening for diabetes as early as 18 years of age among Indians, especially in those with a family history of diabetes.