Diabetes is reaching rural India: Dr Jitendra Singh calls for national action

For years, diabetes has often been linked with urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles and changing food habits in cities. However, the disease is increasingly affecting rural communities as well.

This means that diabetes prevention and care cannot remain limited to large hospitals and urban health centres. People living in villages and underserved areas also need access to screening, medical advice, treatment and regular follow-up.

What Happened

Diabetes can remain undetected for years because some people may have few or no obvious symptoms in the early stages. By the time the disease is diagnosed, some patients may already have developed complications affecting the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves or blood.

• He noted that more than 70 per cent of India's population is below the age of 40 and said protecting the health and productive potential of this population is important for the country's vision.

• At the same time, data collected through these programmes can help policymakers understand where the greatest gaps exist and where resources are needed.

• Community programmes can help take diabetes services closer to people, while digital tools can improve documentation and follow up.

Key Details

This makes early screening an important part of diabetes prevention and management. Identifying people with high blood sugar or those at increased risk can provide an opportunity to introduce lifestyle changes and medical care before serious complications develop.

• Diabetes, he said, cannot be addressed through treatment alone and requires a coordinated approach focused on prevention, detection and long-term care.

• Dr Jitendra Singh called for greater cooperation between government agencies, academic institutions, technology partners, private organisations and local healthcare workers.

• Longer exposure to high blood sugar can increase the risk of complications if the condition is not properly managed.

Why It Matters

Singh stressed that early detection, timely intervention, lifestyle modification and sustained follow-up are important to reducing the overall burden of diabetes. One of the major challenges in rural India is access to specialised healthcare.

• The increasing prevalence of diabetes among younger adults is a concern because developing the disease earlier in life can mean living with it for several decades.

• Singh also linked diabetes prevention with India's long-term development goals.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge