Dr. Ashwin Karuppan V, Founder & Chairman, Club for Diabetes Excellence (C.O.D.E)
Diabetes is no longer just about high blood sugar. It is about protecting your health, preventing future complications, and taking control of your life before the disease takes control of you. Every year, millions of people discover they have diabetes only when they develop symptoms such as tiredness, excessive thirst, frequent urination, or blurred vision. Some discover it even later, when their eyes, kidneys, heart, or feet are already affected.
This World Diabetes Day, the message is simple: Act Early. Protect Your Future.
Diabetes Care Is More Than Controlling Sugar
For many years, diabetes treatment was mainly focused on bringing blood sugar levels down. While this remains important, we now understand that good diabetes care must go much further. Excess weight, especially around the waist, fatty liver, lack of physical activity, unhealthy food habits, and poor sleep can all contribute to the development and worsening of diabetes.
Treating these problems is just as important as treating high blood sugar. The goal is not simply to reduce the number on blood tests. It is to help people lose excess weight, improve liver health, become more active, eat better, and reduce the risk of heart disease and other complications.
Diabetes Is Increasingly Affecting the Young
India is facing a growing diabetes burden, with Tamil Nadu among the states significantly affected. The ICMR–INDIAB national study estimated that approximately 101 million people in India have diabetes, while another 136 million have prediabetes. Although diabetes is more prevalent among middle-aged and older adults, an increasing number of younger adults, including those in their 20s and 30s, are being diagnosed.
The rising trend among younger people may be linked to a combination of genetic susceptibility, excess abdominal fat, sedentary lifestyles, prolonged sitting, calorie-dense and highly processed foods, inadequate physical activity, poor sleep, and chronic stress. In India, diabetes can develop at a relatively younger age, even among individuals who do not appear visibly overweight. One important risk factor that deserves greater attention among young Individuals is central adiposity, or the accumulation of excess fat around the abdomen. Even individuals with a normal body weight can have excess abdominal fat, which is associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In Indians, diabetes can develop at a lower BMI and younger age, making waist circumference an important indicator of metabolic risk. A simple measurement of waist circumference during routine health check-ups can help identify individuals who may benefit from early screening and preventive interventions.
This makes early identification of risk factors, healthy lifestyle habits, and timely blood glucose screening essential, particularly for those with a family history of diabetes or excess abdominal fat.
A New Era of Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes treatment is changing rapidly. Newer medicines, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, are helping people not only improve blood sugar but also lose weight and reduce certain cardiovascular, Fatty liver and kidney risks in appropriate patients.
Newer dual-action medicines, such as tirzepatide, are further expanding treatment possibilities. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is one technology transforming diabetes management by providing real-time glucose patterns and helping individuals and doctors make better-informed treatment and lifestyle decisions.
The New era of diabetes care is moving towards treatments that address the causes and broader metabolic consequences of the disease, rather than just its symptoms.With new medicines and promising treatments being developed, the future offers greater opportunities to slow the progression of diabetes and move towards Remission and Prevent Complications, and help people live healthier lives. But medicines alone are not the answer. Healthy eating, regular physical activity, good sleep, and consistent medical care remain the foundation of diabetes management.
The Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence in Diabetes Care
Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a promising tool in diabetes care. AI-powered systems can analyse glucose patterns, help predict the risk of hypoglycaemia, support personalised dietary recommendations, identify individuals at high risk of diabetes, and assist in the early detection of complications such as diabetic retinopathy. When integrated with digital health platforms and continuous glucose monitoring, AI has the potential to support more personalised, proactive, and data-driven diabetes management.
However, AI should complement—not replace—clinical judgement and the doctor-patient relationship. The future of diabetes care lies in combining medical expertise with intelligent technology to deliver better outcomes.
Do Not Wait for Symptoms
Diabetes can silently affect the eyes, kidneys, heart, and feet long before a person notices any symptoms.Regular screening is essential. People living with diabetes should undergo eye examinations, kidney tests, heart risk assessments, and foot checks as advised by their doctor.
Finding problems early allows treatment to begin sooner and can help prevent serious complications.
Your Health. Your Action. Your Future
- If you have diabetes, do not wait for your blood sugar to rise or complications to appear before taking action.
- f you are at risk, get your blood sugar checked.
- If you have diabetes, follow your treatment plan and attend regular health check-ups.
- This World Diabetes Day, let us redefine diabetes care — from treating high blood sugar to protecting the whole person.
Act early. Live better. Prevent complications. Take charge of your health.