Diabetes didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere in India. It crept in quietly, riding along with the way our lives have changed. We move less. We eat more packaged food. Portions are bigger, sleep is shorter, stress is constant, and sitting has become the default. Even people who don’t “look” unhealthy are dealing with insulin resistance now.The scale of the problem is honestly staggering. Current estimates suggest that India has over 100 million adults living with diabetes. On top of that, another 130–140 million people are thought to have prediabetes, which means their blood sugar is already high but not high enough to be called diabetes yet. Most of them don’t know it. What’s worrying is how fast this is growing. And people are getting diagnosed younger. Doctors are seeing type 2 diabetes in people in their 20s and early 30s, which used to be rare. That means longer exposure to high blood sugar and a higher risk of complications down the line.
Why so many people don’t know they have it
Awareness is a big missing piece. Nearly half of people with diabetes in India don’t know they have it. Part of the problem is that diabetes is sneaky. In the early stages, it often doesn’t hurt. No fever, no dramatic pain. Just mild tiredness, maybe more thirst, maybe nothing at all. So people don’t feel “sick enough” to get tested.But there’s also a mindset issue. Many people still think diabetes only happens if you eat too much sugar, or only if you’re overweight, or only if it runs in your family. So if they don’t fit that picture, they assume they’re safe. Preventive health checks aren’t a habit yet for most Indians, especially when someone feels fine.Even among people who know they have diabetes, control is often poor. Medicines are taken irregularly. Lifestyle advice feels overwhelming or unrealistic. Follow-ups don’t happen. And complications like heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and fatty liver slowly build up in the background.So diabetes isn’t just about sugar levels. It quietly affects almost every organ over time. That’s the real danger.India isn’t facing a diabetes problem anymore. It’s facing a diabetes reality. The disease is common, often silent, and deeply tied to how we live day to day. TOI Health spoke to Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy, Senior Consultant – Endocrinology & Diabetes Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali about diabetes and the common myths around it. Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy also shed light on misleading terms, social media “cures” and the realistic side of managing diabetes.
Can diabetes really be reversed, or is that a misleading term?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: The medical community considers that reversal of diabetes can be misleading. From a medical standpoint, it is much more appropriate to say that there is remission of type 2 diabetes as it refers to the period of time where one’s blood glucose levels are in the normal range without reliance on medications. However, this does not eliminate the fact that there remains a propensity for an individual to develop diabetes and therefore, they must continue to have regular monitoring with a healthy lifestyle.
Which viral diabetes ‘cures’ are most dangerous or misleading?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: Claims that type 2 diabetes can be cured with one type of food, herbal drink, detoxification, or severe caloric restriction through fasting represent the greatest danger to people with type 2 diabetes. Juice cleanses, unknown herbal mixtures, and prolonged periods of fasting can further increase an individual’s blood glucose levels to an extent that will lead to their becoming more dehydrated, potentially suffering from hypoglycaemia and delaying treatment until serious health complications arise.
Can diet and weight loss alone put diabetes into remission?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: In selected individuals diagnosed with early stage type 2 diabetes, dietary modifications and losing excess body weight can enable remission. Based on research, a loss of approximately 10-15% of one’s total body mass can contribute to the improvement of an individual’s insulin sensitivity. Nevertheless, individual responses to such intervention depend on many variables including duration since the onset of diabetes, family genetics and pancreatic function.
How long does it realistically take to see meaningful improvement in blood sugar?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: There is a time gap of several weeks or months before noticeable changes occur in your health; therefore, you shouldn’t expect immediate results. The doctor states that it can take 4-12 weeks after making consistent lifestyle changes to see early signs of improvement. If you expect to see immediate improvement, you will become frustrated and likely engage in unsafe behaviours. Also, the long-term success of your diabetes management will require ongoing patience, continued monitoring, and the continued application of healthy living.
Is stopping diabetes medication without a doctor’s advice risky?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: Stopping diabetes medications (diabetes medications) without physician oversight is very risky. You run the risk of having extremely high blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and sustaining long-term damage to your organs. Physicians remind patients that any changes should only be made to the patient’s diabetes medication after performing blood tests and evaluating the patient clinically. This evaluation is critical to ensure the patient’s blood sugar remains stable and no complications arise.
What lifestyle changes are scientifically proven to work for diabetes control?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: There are many evidence-based treatment options that will help individuals with diabetes manage their diabetes effectively. For example, even thirty minutes of daily walking will increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin. In addition, strength training is essential in preserving muscle mass, which allows your body to better regulate blood sugar levels.
What advice would you give to patients confused by social-media health trends?
Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy: When it comes to anything health-related online, patients need to be careful about trends claiming quick fixes or results. Stick with evidence-based resources provided by qualified health professionals familiar with your medical history over viral claims made about various health modalities.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Aishwarya Krishnamurthy, Senior Consultant – Endocrinology & Diabetes Max Super Speciality Hospital, VaishaliInputs were used to explain different myths around diabetes and why awareness is critical