India to have 57 million diabetics by 2025

31 August, 2007:

India is expected to have 57 million diabetes patients by 2025, thanks to erratic work schedules and improper food habits.

A research paper brought out by India’s industry chamber Assocham, titled Epidemic of New Millennium – Diabetes, reveals that the number of diabetes patients has increased to 25 million from 19 million in 1995.

The ‘lifestyle disease’ – known to be restricted to urban population in the country till a few years ago – has now invaded rural India as well, with as much as 3% of the total rural population being diagnosed with diabetes.

Urban diabetic patients are estimated to account for nearly 10% to 11% of the total 25 million patients in India, a release from Assocham said.

The disease presently affects 10% of the affluent class and nearly 33% of the lower levels of population.

According to Assocham, the prevalence of diabetes is 16.6% in Hyderabad, followed by Chennai with 13.5%, Bangalore with 12.4%, Delhi with 11.6%, and Mumbai with 9.3%.

By 2025, the number of diabetes patients is expected to increase by 41% in developed countries to 72 million from the present level of 51 million. In developing countries, the incidence of the disease would surge by 170% to 228 million from 84 million.

China, which presently has 17 million people suffering from diabetes, would double its diabetic population to 34 million by 2025.

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the developed world. It can affect the blood vessels, heart, kidney, eyes, and nerves.

Interestingly, Hyderabad has emerged as the Indian metro with the highest incidence of diabetes, leaving behind the usual suspects like Delhi and Mumbai.

The key findings of the research conducted by Assocham are:

1. Out of a population of over 1 billion, 3% of rural population and 10%-11% urban population have been affected.
2. Diabetics are presently confined to the 10% of the upper income group and 33% of the lower income group.
3. The number of non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) cases is estimated at 98%.

Compared to India, the United States and China have lesser number of diabetics – China has an estimated 17 million diabetics as against 14 million diabetics in the United States. This is expected to increase to 34 million and 21 million, respectively, by 2025.