I often meet people in their early thirties who say, “But I am not even fat, how can I have sugar?” This surprise is common in India. There are real reasons behind it.
A different body type
Many Indians carry more fat around the belly and inside the body, and less muscle, even at a normal weight. Doctors sometimes call this “thin outside, fat inside”. This inside fat makes insulin work poorly.
That is why Indian cut-offs are lower
For Asian Indians, expert groups suggest calling a BMI of 23 to 24.9 overweight, and 25 or more obese. For waist size, the limits are 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women. These are lower than in Western countries because the risk of diabetes and heart disease rises at smaller numbers in us.
Other reasons
- Family history: if both parents have diabetes, the chances are higher.
- Fast change in food: more rice, white flour, sweets, fried snacks and soft drinks, less millets and pulses.
- Less movement: long hours at a desk or on the phone.
- Poor sleep and stress, common in busy city jobs.
What the national data says
The ICMR-INDIAB study showed 11.4 percent of Indian adults had diabetes and 15.3 percent had prediabetes in 2021, with higher numbers in cities.
What you can do early
Measure your waist once a month. Aim for at least 150 minutes of brisk walking each week. Eat dal, vegetables, curd and whole grains. Get a sugar test from the age of 30, or earlier if the waist is big or there is a family history. Early care is much easier than late care.
A simple self-check
Take a soft measuring tape and measure around your waist at the level of the belly button, after breathing out. Write the number down on your phone. If it is above 90 cm for men or 80 cm for women, your body is telling you to be careful, even when your weight looks fine. Repeat once a month. This takes one minute and costs nothing, yet it tells you more about your diabetes risk than the weighing scale does.
If you live in Gopanpally, Gowlidoddi, Nallagandla or Tellapur, or work in the Financial District or Nanakramguda, a simple blood sugar check is available at our clinic in Gopanpally, Gachibowli. You can read more about our diabetes care or contact us to book a visit.
Keep reading
Your family doctor,
Akhila Reddy
MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine) | TSMC Reg. No. APMC/FMR/74261
AMC Hospital, Gopanpally, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
This article is for general health education and does not replace a check-up. Every person is different, so please speak to your doctor before changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest hospital.
References
- Misra A et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians. J Assoc Physicians India 2009;57:163-170.
- Anjana RM et al. ICMR-INDIAB study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023;11(7):474-489. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00119-5
- WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations. Lancet 2004;363:157-163.