Why prediabetes should be treated with same urgency as diabetes in India

Prediabetes, once considered a mild warning, has now emerged as one of the most pressing public health challenges in India.

With nearly 15% of Indians estimated to be living with prediabetes—a number that exceeds those already diagnosed with diabetes—the condition is becoming an iceberg beneath India’s glycemic crisis.

What makes this particularly alarming is the rising incidence among young adults, who are now showing early metabolic dysfunction far earlier than previous generations.

Prediabetes is often invisible. Unlike diabetes, its symptoms are subtle, and most individuals remain unaware until routine screening reveals abnormal blood sugar levels. Yet, the absence of clear symptoms does not mean the absence of harm.

Research shows that prediabetes carries elevated risks of cardiov