Practo Insights: 46% YoY rise in diabetes consultations by young Indians

New Delhi: With the alarming rise of diabetes in the country, Practo, India’s leading integrated healthcare company, has witnessed an overall 44%increase in diabetes consultations (in-person) year-on-year (October 2020 – September 2021 vs October 2021 – September 2022).

Young Indians in the age group of 25 – 34 recorded the highest spike in consultations as their share of consultations increased by 46% since last year.

Doctors suggest poor lifestyle choices, lack of exercise or even poor dietary habits might be some of the factors contributing to the rise in diabetes among young Indians.

Key findings from Practo Insights:

• Diabetes, Diabetologists and Endocrinologists were the top 3 leading queries (searches) for diabetes on Practo

  • Diabetes and Diabetologists accounted for 46% of the top 3 queries, and Endocrinologists accounted for 54%

• Young Indians in the age group of 25-34 accounted for 50% of all consultations, recording a 46% YoY increase

  • 18-24 years accounted for 5% of total consultations; recording a 91% increase

  • 35-44 years accounted for 33% of total consultations; recording a 23% increase

  • 45-54 years accounted for 8% of total consultations; recording a 18% increase

  • 54+ years accounted for 4% of total consultations; recording a 0.41% dip

• Tier 1 cities accounted for 95% of all consultations; recording a 44% YoY increase

  • Bangalore accounted for 29% of total consultations; recording a 77% increase

  • Delhi-NCR accounted for 40% of total consultations; recording a 46% increase

  • Mumbai and Navi Mumbai accounted for 9% of total consultations; recording a 72% increase

  • Hyderabad accounted for 14% of total consultations; recording a 21% increase

  • Chennai accounted for 3% of total consultations; recording a 24% increase

  • Pune accounted for 5% of total consultations; recording a 35% increase

• Tier 2 cities on the other hand accounted for 5% of all consultations, recording a 24%  YoY decrease

*Timeline – October 2020 – September 2021 vs October 2021 – September 2022

Commenting on the insights, Dr Hema Venkataraman, Medical Advisor, New Initiatives, Practo, Consultant Endocrinologist and Senior Lecturer, University Hospitals Birmingham, NHS, UK, said, “The burden of diabetes in India has doubled in the last 20 years overwhelming the existing health care infrastructure, that has not grown proportionately. With as high as 1 in 5 adults estimated to have diabetes, it is time to rethink sustainable diabetes care delivery.”

Dr Venkataraman added: “The breakthrough discovery of diabetes remission is shifting the paradigm of diabetes care, from a glucocentric drug treatment-based approach, to a more holistic, large scale prevention strategy targeting the root cause of diabetes. The rollout of a nationwide Diabetes remission program is the need of the hour along with a strong public health campaign and policy change on advertising and healthy eating.”