Risk of diabetes among school going adolescents in India

Diabetes mellitus, a leading non-communicable disease (NCD), is increasingly linked to early-life behaviors and risk factors established during adolescence. Early detection among youth is crucial for prevention. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the risk of diabetes and its associated factors among school-going adolescents aged 15-19 years in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire covering socio-demographic profile, lifestyle behaviors. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were recorded following WHO protocols. Diabetes risk was assessed using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) and statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Most participants (91.3%) were categorized as low risk for diabetes, while 8.4% were at moderate risk and 0.3% at high risk. Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) (Adjusted OR: 4.116; p = 0.002) and elevated blood pressure (Adjusted OR: 2.950; p = 0.020) emerged as significant predictors of diabetes risk. Waist circumference was also significantly higher among adolescents with moderate/high IDRS scores (p = 0.002).