The Alarming Rise of Early-Onset Diabetes in India

India is known for its cuisine and celebrating every festival and occasion in a grand way. We normalize over eating in the name of enjoyment and fun. But the cost of it is borne by us at an early stage. “According to data 18% of young adults aged 18-40 in India are diabetic. Out of that, nearly one-quarter of this young population are said to be pre-diabetic”. (Source: The CSR Journal) Many of these are due to the way we now consume food and India is already recognized as the diabetes capital of the world.

Previously, diabetes was looked at as a condition that only happened to older people, but lately it has been very common in the younger generation. The alarming rise of this early-onset diabetes in India is driven by modern lifestyle changes like poor diet and lack of physical activity, with studies showing high prevalence in young adults. This change is expected to increase healthcare burdens and long-term complications like heart disease and kidney failure, highlighting the need for urgent public health measures, including widespread screening and lifestyle education.

Why Is Early-Onset Diabetes Increasing?

Data indicates that the obesity rates in India have increased with the percentage of children and adolescents (5–19 years old) having obesity worldwide being four times more than in 1990, and India is moving along with the others. Even more alarming is the fact that due to poor knowledge, stigma, and absence of regular health check-ups, a significant part of this group is still undiagnosed. The medical condition of diabetes along with obesity adds up to the risk of developing a number of complications in different body systems, which are heart diseases, vision problems, renal impairment, and even diabetic neuropathy. It is important to note that these diseases can adversely affect the quality of life of the patients in the long run. Here are a few reasons that can lead to early-onset diabetes.

1. Sedentary Lifestyle

India’s younger population, particularly urban youth are spending long hours sitting in on place. Be it at schools, working in offices, or being up all night using digital devices. Also, with quick commerce apps like Swiggy, Zepto and Blinkit we have gotten so lazy that we do not step out of our houses to buy even a piece of bread. These lead to lack of physical activity amongst people which is causing a major trigger for insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.

2. Poor Dietary Habits

The rise of fast food culture, sugary beverages, processed snacks, and irregular meal timings has significantly contributed to metabolic imbalances. We have gone from having a three day meal to now having skipping meals and having junk food be it any time of the night or the day. It is all because of food apps and the tempting influence of food promotion on social media and mainly because of our busy schedules. With these affordability and convenience driving choices, nutrition often takes a back seat and puts all the sugar, fat, sodium and other components at the front.

3. Stress and Sleep Deprivation

In our hustle and bustle and chasing dreams we almost forget that our body needs rest. Our ways of living have completely shifted there was a time when parents forced us to sleep at 9 and 10 pm. Now all we do is scrolls through Instagram reels till 3am until our eyes shut. A time when 9 – 5 seemed to be an ideal work time now we are juggling with long working hours, social meet ups, academic stress and more. In this all, we have forgotten about sleep and this leads to chronic stress. Stress hormones like cortisol elevate blood sugar levels. Additionally, inadequate sleep disrupts glucose metabolism, further increasing risk.

4. Genetic Predisposition

Genetic predisposition is one of the most important factors that cause the rapid increase of diabetes among young Indians. In reality, South Asians have a higher fraction of body fat, particularly the concealed visceral fat, even with the normal BMI which makes them more susceptible to insulin resistance. Furthermore, some of the people have a genetically lower beta-cell reserve which results in the pancreas producing less insulin and getting quickly exhausted. The combination of this genetic vulnerability and modern lifestyle factors such as stress, irregular sleep, processed foods, and physical inactivity leads to an earlier and more aggressive onset of the disease.

5. Rising Obesity Rates

Obesity especially abdominal obesity is one of the strongest indicators of diabetes risk. With increasing consumption of high-calorie foods, reduced physical activity, and hormonal changes due to stress, obesity is rising sharply among young Indians.

6. High Screen Time and Low Physical Labour

Technology has transformed daily life, but it has also reduced routine physical movement. Children and teenagers are growing up with limited playtime and more screen time, leading to earlier metabolic disorders.

The Long-Term Impact

Early-onset diabetes is not just a health issue—it has far-reaching consequences for the economy, healthcare infrastructure, and society.

• Increased risk of complications at a young age
• Higher medical expenses throughout life
• Reduced productivity and work efficiency
• Impact on mental health
• Burden on families and caregivers

If this trend continues, India may face a massive medical and economic burden in the next 10–20 years.

Warning Signs That Young Adults Often Ignore

Diabetes doesn’t always announce itself with obvious symptoms. Yet many young adults experience signs such as:

• Unusual tiredness
• Increased thirst or hunger
• Unexplained weight changes
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Slow wound healing

Ignoring these can delay diagnosis and worsen long-term outcomes.

What Can Be Done? Preventing the Epidemic

Addressing early-onset diabetes requires collective responsibility—from individuals to families, schools, workplaces, and policymakers.

1. Encourage Routine Health Check-ups

Early detection can drastically reduce complications. Annual blood sugar tests should become a norm for individuals over 18 with risk factors.

2. Strengthen Physical Activity Culture

Young adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. Schools and workplaces must integrate wellness initiatives.

3. Promote Balanced Nutrition

Switching to healthier diets rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, and whole grains can significantly lower risk. Reducing sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods is essential.

4. Address Mental Health and Stress

Work-life balance, mindfulness, and adequate sleep must be prioritized. Mental well-being plays a critical role in metabolic health.

5. Public Health Campaigns and Awareness

Governments and organizations should create large-scale awareness campaigns, especially targeting teens and young adults who may not recognize their risk.

6. Digital Health Tools

Apps, wearables, and health programs can help young individuals track diet, steps, glucose levels, and fitness progress.

The Hidden Culprits in Everyday Foods

While lifestyle factors like inactivity and stress play a role in rising diabetes rates, another major contributor lies in the foods that dominate Indian kitchens, restaurants, and packaged shelves. Many young Indians unknowingly consume ingredients that silently harm metabolic health. Five of the most concerning are palm oil, refined flour (maida), preservatives, artificial food colours, and excessive sugar.

1. Palm Oil
Palm oil has quietly slipped into almost everything we eat biscuits, instant noodles, chips, street-side snacks, and even restaurant fries. It’s popular because it’s cheap and easy for companies to use, but for our bodies, it comes at a high cost. Palm oil is loaded with unhealthy saturated fats that fuel inflammation, raise bad cholesterol, and push the body toward insulin resistance. When young people keep eating foods heavy in palm oil, they unknowingly set themselves up for early diabetes and heart problems.

2. Maida (Refined Flour)
From steaming momos to buttery biscuits and soft breads, maida is everywhere. But this white, silky flour is basically empty calories it has no fibre, no nutrients, and it gets absorbed almost instantly, sending blood sugar shooting up. Over time, this leads to stubborn belly fat and insulin resistance. For students and working young adults who snack on maida-based foods multiple times a day, it becomes a silent yet powerful trigger for metabolic issues.

3. Preservatives
Packaged foods may feel like a lifesaver. But behind the convenience are preservatives like sodium benzoate, nitrates, and BHA/BHT that keep these foods “fresh” for months. Regularly eating them disrupts gut health, causes inflammation, and messes with the body’s metabolism and insulin response. Since college students and young professionals rely heavily on ready-to-eat snacks, they end up taking in these chemicals far more often than they realise.

4. Artificial Food Colours
The bright, colourful sweets, drinks, desserts, and bakery items we love look fun but many of those colours come from artificial dyes that the body simply doesn’t know what to do with. These dyes can throw hormones off balance, increase oxidative stress, and contribute to inflammation. Some studies even link them to attention-related issues in children. They add nothing to our nutrition, yet they’re still widely used in India, even though several countries have banned them.

5. Excessive Sugar
Sugar is everywhere today, often hiding where we least expect it—breakfast cereals, “healthy” protein bars, packaged juices, sauces, coffees, and instant foods. Young people end up consuming much more sugar than recommended without even realising it. This leads to sudden blood sugar spikes, fat build-up around the stomach, increased risk of fatty liver, and an almost addictive cycle of cravings. It’s no surprise that early-onset diabetes is rising sharply among India’s youth.

A Wake-Up Call for India

The increasing rate of diabetes among young adults is more than just a statistic it is a wake-up call. If a significant portion of the population in their most productive years becomes chronically ill, it impacts not only personal health but also the nation’s socio-economic development. If these dietary patterns don’t change, the next generation will face metabolic diseases far earlier than their parents or grandparents did.

India must respond urgently with awareness, education, early prevention, and accessible healthcare solutions to reverse this trajectory. The time to act is now before early-onset diabetes becomes a full-fledged epidemic among India’s youth.