Diabetes prevention should begin during pregnancy and childhood: Expert

Hyderabad, Nov 15 (TNT);  India needs to shift its focus from treating diabetes in adulthood to preventing metabolic risks from early stages of life, as the foundations of metabolic health are shaped during pregnancy, infancy and childhood, Dr Anura Kurpad, Senior Advisor – Health and Nutrition, Tata Trusts, said on Saturday.

According to the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 2025 Diabetes Atlas, an estimated 89.8 million adults aged 20–79 were living with diabetes in India in 2024, with 43 per cent of cases remaining undiagnosed.

Dr Kurpad said maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy, along with childhood growth patterns, played a significant role in determining an individual’s risk of developing diabetes later in life.

Citing findings from the New Delhi Birth Cohort, he said rapid BMI gain during adolescence was associated with an increased risk of diabetes in later life.

Research from the Mysore Parthenon Cohort had also highlighted the influence of maternal gestational diabetes on the subsequent metabolic health of children.

He emphasised the need to improve maternal nutrition, promote balanced diets with better protein quality, reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates and added sugars, and encourage healthy growth among children.

He also called for wider access to appropriate metabolic risk assessments and preventive healthcare, stressing that India’s diabetes response should move beyond early diagnosis to early prevention.

The fight against diabetes must begin well before the disease develops through improved maternal health, better nutrition for children and healthier food environments, he added.