In India, diabetes isn’t just a medical condition; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Dr. Pankaj Soni, principal director of internal medicine at Fortis Escorts, New Delhi, doesn’t mince words: “India is the world capital of diabetes,” he says, flatly. Despite increasing awareness campaigns by the government and the healthcare sector, the disease continues to escalate, fueled by modern, urban lifestyles, the proliferation of processed food, and environmental stressors like pollution.
According to The Lancet, nearly one-fourth of the 828 million people living with diabetes worldwide are in India. But the grimmer statistic is this: of the 445 million adults globally denied proper care, 133 million live in India. This means almost 30 percent of diabetics in India lack access to adequate treatment.
That 133 million Indians with diabetes are without adequate care isn’t just a statistic—it’s a public health indictment. This shortage of treatment is a ticking time bomb, piling pressure on an already stretched healthcare system and leaving rural regions woefully under-resourced for chronic illnesses like diabetes. Without targeted action—affordable treatment, real infrastructure in underserved areas, and practical, community-based support—millions will continue to live without the care they need. It’s a stark reminder that India’s diabetes crisis isn’t merely a medical issue; it’s a challenge to how we think about healthcare in this country.
India’s approach to diabetes care under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) is ambitious on paper, addressing prevention, early diagnosis, and standardized management. Launched in 2010, it promises lifestyle interventions, broad screenings, and access to essential medications. So far, about 589 million people are registered on the national NCD portal, and 45.6 million are under treatment for diabetes and hypertension. It’s a nationwide effort, covering 31 states and union territories, with guidelines and trained personnel in place. But the question remains: Can this programme, however vast, outpace the escalating tide of diabetes in India?
World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14 in honor of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin in 1921, highlights the urgent need to tackle the diabetes crisis. What began as a life-saving discovery has now collided with a global health crisis, especially in India, where diabetes places a severe burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.
“Sure, awareness has improved diagnosis,” Dr. Soni acknowledges, “but lifestyle shifts — obesity, stress, pollution — are pushing more people toward diabetes every day.” And for a large, corporate hospital like Fortis, managing diabetes care across a diverse patient base is daunting. People come in from all walks of life, with different needs, awareness levels, and financial means. The reality is, diabetes is a chronic condition, a long-term financial burden that requires constant monitoring and checkups, which few can afford.
