The ICMR INDIAB Study – A Compendium of Type 2 Diabetes in India: Lessons Learnt for the Nation

Diabetes and associated metabolic non communicable diseases (NCDs) including hypertension, obesity etc are no longer a disease of affluent developed nations, the prevalence rates of diabetes and metabolic NCDs is steadily increasing in developing countries like India. The epidemiological transition occurring in the India, as a result of rapid urbanization and economic development, has perhaps made it one of the epicentres of the diabetes epidemic. Currently, in India, there are large data deficits on diabetes and associated metabolic NCDs with regards to their prevalence and disease outcomes. The national Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR–INDIAB) study was designed to provide accurate and comprehensive state- and national-level data on the prevalence of diabetes and other metabolic NCDs in India. Phase I results of the ICMR-INDIAB study was conducted in four regions (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chandigarh) between 2008 and 2010. The results of the ICMR-INDIAB study shows that of the four regions studied, the prevalence of diabetes was highest in Chandigarh followed by Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The glycemic control among self-reported diabetic subjects is poor in India, with less than a third of subjects exhibiting good glycemic control. In addition, India has a huge burden of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia and poor levels of physical activity, which may predispose to even larger increases in NCDs in the future. Thus, the results from ICMR-INDIAB study helps not only in earlier detection of diabetes/prediabetes through screening, it also lays the foundation for effective NCD prevention and control in India.