Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in Indians

Prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally. India have the maximum increase during the last few years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the commonest form of diabetes. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is 2.4% in rural population and 11.6% in urban population. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance is also high in the urban population. Subjects under 40 years of age have a higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance than diabetes. The important risk factors for high prevalence of diabetes include: High familial aggregation, obesity specially central one, insulin resistance and lifestyle changes due to rapid urbanisation. Diabetes Research Centre, Madras carried out many studies regarding the risk factors involved in causing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results of these studies are mentioned here in this article to have a glimpse of overall risk factors involved in causation of diabetes mellitus.