Zerodha co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath has taken to social media to raise a concern about the growing rate of diabetes in India. In a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Kamath highlighted the alarming statistics and the urgent need for action.
Kamath emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, in preventing and managing diabetes. He also called for increased public awareness campaigns and government initiatives to tackle the issue.
Read the post here
Diabetes is a ticking time bomb for India. We have the largest number of people with diabetes in the world.
There was a time when people used to call diabetes a rich person’s disease. But that’s no longer the case. According to a recent study, 21 crore Indians are living with diabetes.
The scary part is the rate at which it’s affecting young Indians. If you’re a 20-year-old woman living in a city today, you have a 64.6% chance of developing diabetes during your lifetime. If you’re a young man, your risk is also quite high at 55.5%.
But the sad part is there’s a lack of awareness among people. About 27.5% of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Even if they do know, very few people get treatment.
What makes this a serious crisis is that less than 20% of Indians have health insurance. Most Indians end up spending out of their pocket, which is a huge burden for poor and low-income households.
There’s no magic bullet to solve this issue. We need multiple approaches, from public awareness campaigns, insurance coverage for the poor and vulnerable, to introducing early detection programs.
Simple lifestyle changes, like adding a few extra minutes of exercise each day or reducing time spent sitting, can make a big difference. Even small changes, such as walking or cycling for an extra five minutes a day, can lower the risk of diabetes.
We’ve been supporting founders and startups that are working on helping Indians become healthier, but this is a systemic challenge that needs all people involved—from individuals to the government—to take action.
The Zerodha CEO’s post highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the diabetes crisis in India. This includes promoting early detection, improving access to affordable healthcare, and fostering a culture of preventive health.