Diabetes is a growing concern in India, but there is little information available about the extent of awareness, treatment, and control of the disease among the population. However, a recent study published in ‘Scientific Reports’ sheds light on this issue.

      The study used data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a nationally-representative household-based survey conducted in India between 2019 and 2021. The survey was done across 707 districts in 28 states and 8 union territories of India, and included 2,078,315 adults aged 15 years and above.

      All adults were requested to undergo a finger-stick blood glucose measurement using the Accu-Chek Performa glucometers with glucose test strips for random blood glucose testing by trained health investigators. Based on their blood glucose levels, individuals were classified as having high or very high blood glucose.

      The adjusted rates of awareness in the study varied from 14.4% to 54.4%, while the rates of treatment ranged from 9.3% to 41.2%, and the rates of control ranged from 2.7% to 11.9%. These rates were found to be lower among poorer and less educated individuals, as well as among males, residents of rural areas, and those from socially backward groups.

      The conclusion highlights the need for better health monitoring and education to raise awareness about diabetes and improve treatment and control in India. The findings of this study may help policymakers to design more effective interventions and policies to address the growing burden of diabetes in India.

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