Data from India’s ageing study suggests one-fifth of those aged 45 and above had diabetes in 2019
Published on: Aug. 9, 2025, 6:30 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
A 2019 study published in The Lancet Global Health revealed that approximately one-fifth of Indians aged 45 and above, totaling 50.4 million people, were living with diabetes. The research, based on the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), found that prevalence was similar between men and women but twice as high in urban areas compared to rural ones. The study also highlighted a significant lack of awareness, with two out of every five individuals with diabetes potentially unaware of their condition. While 46% of those aware were able to control their blood sugar and 60% their blood pressure, only 6% were taking lipid-lowering medication. The authors project that due to India's aging population, the number of middle-aged and older adults with diabetes will continue to rise, even if age-specific prevalence rates are stabilized.
