Nature vs Nurture: Why So Many Indians Are at Risk

Ever thought why do Indians develop diabetes, even though they do not eat sweets? The answer lies in the misconception that eating sweets can cause diabetes. It is not your plate but your DNA. It is also in your lifestyle and the modern urbanization air. Also, as researchers found, South Asians bear a greater burden of Type 2 diabetes compared to Whites (Hodgson et al., 2025).

Countries with the Highest Numbers of Diabetes in 2021

Source: (Magliano & Boyko, 2021)

Genetic Angle: Born with a Higher Risk

There are some things in life that you cannot control; among them, genetic diseases are very common. South Asians, including Indians, genetically produce more fat around the abdomen, even if they appear lean. This internal or “visceral” fat interferes with insulin function, raising the probability of uncontrollable blood sugar levels (Dhokte & Czaja, 2024).

The Thrifty Gene Theory explains it by suggesting that our ancestors survived famines by storing every calorie as fat. But, in today's period, it backfires, as genes like TCF7L2 impair insulin signaling early, making a 35-year-old at the same place as 3 a 50-year-old in diabetes risks. As an inhabitant of the ancestral genes, our body keeps storing the fat to fight against any probable “famine” that will not occur in reality.

Modern Lifestyle and Ancient Genes

If the ancestral genes set the stage tilted towards diabetes, the modern lifestyle exacerbates the situation.

Ancestors	Modern Population
●       Walked almost 5-10 kilometers per day. ●       Ate home-cooked millet rotis, fresh. fruits and vegetables at regular times. ●       Sleep early.	●       Take cabs over walking for 30 minutes. ●       Order food at 11 p.m. (unusual food habits). ●       Spend most of the time sitting. ●       Eat unhealthy junk foods, filled with fat and sugar. ●       Sleep less than 6 hours.

So, who do you think will be healthier? The mismatch activities of this generation, compared to their ancestors, activate those thrifty genes. Many articles, newspaper reports, and research papers address the concern that Indians do not meet the requirements of basic health activities and stay inactive, leading to an overemphasis on the risk factors (Mohanty et al., 2022). Further, the diet we follow contains overloading carbs with rice and parathas, with less than 5 grams of fibre.  Scrolling through the phone seems to be more appropriate than having a good night's sleep. Additionally, stress factors from disturbing work and educational life spike sugar independent of food. Further, pollution inflames the beta cells of the pancreas, heightening the chances of diabetes. So, it is not that Indians are intentionally bringing diabetes mellitus, but the environment has changed faster than our genes can adapt.

Urbanization and the Stress Factor

City life is filled with opportunities, wealth, and success, right? But opportunities and chaos coexist, as the lifestyle and inhabitants of city life slowly destroy your physical health. A general worker in Kolkata spends an average of 90 minutes in traffic, 10+ hours at the desk, and grabs sugar-filled “cha” (tea), with deep-fried snacks, and oily junk food for dinner, because there is no time for home-cooking. Similarly, a student has to pull all-nighters several times a week to complete the assignments and projects,  munching on Maggi and Red Bull. In this way, their chronic stress keeps blood sugar elevated even on an empty stomach. Also, urbanization strategically increases the number of grocery delivery apps, so there is also no calorie burn, as both meat and groceries can be delivered to the door.

Family and Cultural Dimension

Beyond lifestyle and biology, there are also cultural and family contributions to diabetes growth, which can only be uniquely Indian. Indian culture represents diversity, and people often celebrate with sweets, deep-fried foods, and heavy meals as a token of love.

However, this love can be poisonous when you or any of your family members have diabetes. The tradition of “have some more” unintentionally increases the invisible calories. It is the time to spread awareness of cultural activities and promote a healthy life, along with love.

What You Can Control

Diabetes cannot be cured, but you can change your lifestyle to promote change.

●       Exercise daily.

●       Eat smart.

●       Sleep well.

●       Meditation.

●       Regular check-ups.