About six months ago, Renuka Sachdev, 56, learned she had hypertension and diabetes. A dedicated sales professional in Mumbai, she had never smoked or drank alcohol. However, her long workdays, erratic meals, and constant stress took a toll on her health. “I was always anxious about deadlines and targets,” she shared. Her doctor told her that stress played a big role in her health issues. Now, she is trying to slow down, dedicating the first hours of her day to self-care.
Sachdev’s experience isn’t unique. All over India, doctors are seeing a worrisome rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease, especially among younger people. The World Health Organization reports that 73% of all NCD deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries. In 2021, cardiovascular diseases alone resulted in 19 million deaths worldwide.
A recent study from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences revealed that an estimated 101 million people in India live with diabetes—quite a jump from previous estimates. Hypertension rates are concerning too, with 35.5% of Indians affected. Shockingly, awareness and treatment for these conditions are low, with only 46% of diabetes patients aware of their condition.
Dr. Rajiv Kovil, a diabetologist, points out that the age of diagnosis is dropping. In the U.S., people are typically diagnosed in their late 50s, but in India, it’s now seen in those as young as 30. “Our lifestyles have normalized unhealthy living,” he notes. Long working hours and poor eating habits are becoming the norm.
This trend extends to heart health as well. Dr. Rahul Gupta, a cardiologist in Mumbai, has seen an increase in high blood pressure cases in people in their 30s. He warns that obesity and stress are contributing to a wave of early heart disease.
Diet plays a significant role in this crisis. Many people turn to fast food and sugary drinks. Dr. Kovil mentions that healthy food is often seen as expensive, with families still opting for cheaper, unhealthy options. India has one of the highest sugar intakes globally, with each person consuming about 23.5 kg a year.
Preventing NCDs requires a shift in public behavior. Experts say that merely treating patients isn’t enough. Dr. Sridevi Paladugu, an endocrinologist, emphasizes the need for regular screenings and promoting active lifestyles. Programs like Novo Nordisk’s “Changing Diabetes” aim to raise awareness across India, but experts agree that more needs to be done.
For many, like 44-year-old homemaker Ankita Sharma, a diabetes diagnosis came as a shock. “I thought only overweight people got diabetes,” she said, but she was quite wrong. Health professionals are now seeing diabetes in people of all shapes and sizes.
Lower-income families face a different challenge. Many can’t afford healthy food and rely on cheap street food that is often unhealthy. Despite government initiatives to tackle the NCD surge, like health taxes on sugary drinks, implementation remains a challenge.
Experts emphasize that supporting healthy living environments is crucial. Without safe spaces for exercise, many choose inactivity. Dr. Kovil stresses the importance of teaching nutrition in schools to encourage healthier habits from a young age. He cites methods in the U.S., where sugary drinks featuring cartoon characters have been banned from marketing to kids.
Ultimately, India’s NCD issue is as much about societal norms as it is about individual health. “We must stop accepting poor lifestyle choices as normal,” says Dr. Kahale. For people like Sachdev, change is underway—she is now dedicated to monitoring her health and making proactive choices. As Dr. Kovil states, “Health should be a cultural choice, not just a medical one.”
If India hopes to meet its goals for reducing NCD-related deaths by 2030, many will need to follow suit and shift from reactive treatment to proactive lifestyles.
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