Nithin Kamath, co-founder and CEO of Zerodha, has raised concerns about the growing prevalence of diabetes in India, highlighting alarming statistics and stressing the urgent need for preventive measures and systemic reforms. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kamath shared insights and recommendations, calling for a collective response to this major public health crisis.
Kamath pointed out that India now leads the world in diabetes cases, with over 21 crore people affected. Once considered a “disease of affluence,” diabetes has now spread across all socio-economic groups and age ranges.
He also highlighted the lack of awareness surrounding the condition. Approximately 27.5 per cent of people with diabetes are unaware of their condition, and among those who are aware, only a tiny percentage receive proper treatment, he said.
“Diabetes is a ticking time bomb for India. We have the largest number of people with diabetes in the world. There was a time when people used to call diabetes a rich person’s disease. But that’s no longer the case. According to a recent study, 21 crore Indians are living with diabetes,” he wrote.
Diabetes is a ticking time bomb for India. We have the largest number of people with diabetes in the world.
There was a time when people used to call diabetes a rich person’s disease. But that’s no longer the case. According to a recent study, 21 crore Indians are living with… pic.twitter.com/40585x7ken
— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) November 21, 2024
He added, “The scary part is the rate at which it’s affecting young Indians. If you’re a 20-year-old woman living in a city today, you have a 64.6 per cent chance of developing diabetes during your lifetime. If you’re a young man, your risk is also quite high at 55.5 per cent. But the sad part is there’s a lack of awareness among people. About 27.5 per cent of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Even if they do know, very few people get treatment.”
He also talks about how only 20 per cent of Indians have health insurance. He wrote, “What makes this a serious crisis is that less than 20 per cent of Indians have health insurance. Most Indians end up spending out of their pocket, which is a huge burden for poor and low-income households. There’s no magic bullet to solve this issue. We need multiple approaches, from public awareness campaigns, insurance coverage for the poor and vulnerable, to introducing early detection programs.”
“Simple lifestyle changes, like adding a few extra minutes of exercise each day or reducing time spent sitting, can make a big difference. Even small changes, such as walking or cycling for an extra five minutes a day, can lower the risk of diabetes. We’ve been supporting founders and startups that are working on helping Indians become healthier, but this is a systemic challenge that needs all people involved—from individuals to the government—to take action,” he concluded.
The post also garnered lots of reactions from internet users. One user wrote, “Our parent’s generation used to do hard labour. Coming to our generation, atleast we used play daily. Present generation’s sedentary lifestyle and eating habits are the main culprits for raising diabetes cases. Eat home cooked food and do atleast 30mins workout to stay healthy.”
