ICMR-INDIAB study reveals alarming diabetes prevalence of UT of Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu region)

Prediabetes affects 10.8 per cent of the population, suggesting that many individuals have already transitioned to diabetes, underscoring the need for early intervention

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), has released critical data from the ICMR-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) national study, which includes data for the Union Territory of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The results of the Jammu region are being presented.

This first-of-its-kind study in the region reveals that the overall prevalence of diabetes in Jammu is 18.9 per cent, with an alarming 26.5 per cent in urban areas and 14.5 per cent in rural areas. Additionally, 10.8 per cent of the population is affected by prediabetes, emphasising the urgent need for action against the growing -burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology said, “The ICMR-INDIAB study is a landmark study, as it is the first representative research providing authentic epidemiological data on diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity across various states and union territories (UTs) of India. The data obtained through the ICMR INDIAB study in Jammu will help to estimate the health burden due to diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic NCDs, assess the level of diabetes control among individuals with self-reported diabetes and help in shifting the focus to the prevention and control of diabetes and other NCDs in the union territory of Jammu. I congratulate ICMR for supporting this large-scale epidemiological study in the country and commend Dr V Mohan, the National Coordinator and Principal Investigator along with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and all the investigators for completing the study on schedule and making this valuable data available for public health researchers,  academicians and the state/UT governments for planning preventive and control programs. I especially congratulate Prof Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Principal Investigator (PI) for the Jammu Region and Professor & Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, Govt Medical College (GMC), Jammu for completing this project in Jammu."

The ICMR-INDIAB study is a comprehensive national survey designed to provide reliable data on the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the state and national levels. Coordinated by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai (National Coordinating Centre), and strongly supported by the ICMR-INDIAB Expert Group, this cross-sectional, door-to-door survey of individuals aged 20 years and above covered all 28 States, the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, and 7 Union Territories (UTs) in a phased manner, starting from 2008 to 2024. The Jammu phase surveyed 1,520 participants across urban and rural areas, providing critical insights into the region's health landscape.

Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and National Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the ICMR-INDIAB Study adds, “I am happy to inform you that the ICMR-INDIAB study has now been completed in all the 28 States, the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi and seven Union Territories (UTs), including the islands.

The total number of participants screened for diabetes and other metabolic disorders in all the phases of the study is 1,21,077, which makes it one of the largest epidemiological studies on diabetes ever done in the world. The ICMR - INDIAB study was conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, with the help of ICMR and the Department of Health Research (DHR), showed that there were 101 million people with diabetes in India. In addition, there were 136 million people with prediabetes in the country. The results of the study show that the diabetes epidemic has now spread to rural areas. This study has already resulted in several excellent publications and many more are to follow.  I’m sure through this dissemination meeting, there will be awareness among the various stakeholders (public, private and NGOs) to plan and combat the growing burden of NCDs in Jammu.”

Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Professor & Head, Dept of Community Medicine, Govt Medical College, Jammu Region, says “The ICMR INDIAB study is the ‘first of its kind’ in Jammu to not only assess the burden of diabetes, and prediabetes but also to obtain information on other cardio-metabolic risk factors among 1,520 participants. The overall prevalence of diabetes in Jammu is 18.9 per cent, while it is 26.5 per cent in urban areas and 14.5 per cent in rural areas. The overall prevalence of prediabetes is 10.8 per cent, while it is 13.4 per cent and 9.3 per cent in the urban and rural areas, respectively. 40 per cent of individuals had undiagnosed diabetes. The overall prevalence of hypertension, generalised obesity, and abdominal obesity in Jammu is 27.1 per cent, 41.7 per cent and 62.7 per cent respectively.”

Dr Tanvir Kaur, Scientist ‘G’, Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, ICMR, New Delhi adds, “I wish to thank the present ICMR Director General and the previous DGs for supporting the ICMR-INDIAB study over the last 15 years throughout the country, making this the largest epidemiological study in the field of diabetes. So far, we have nearly 20 publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals from this study. In addition, this study also ensured the capacity building of the various field staff in the NCD screening protocols.”