India’s First Diabetes Biobank: A Major Step in the Global Fight Against Diabetes
India has launched its first-ever diabetes biobank in Chennai, a significant development in the global battle against this increasingly prevalent disease. The initiative, a joint venture between the indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), represents a crucial step towards improving diabetes research and treatment, not just in India, but potentially worldwide.
According to recent studies, India faces a staggering diabetes burden, with over 100 million cases and 136 million cases of prediabetes – one of the highest rates globally. This new biobank, a repository of biological samples from across India, aims to unlock critical insights into the disease’s complexities and pave the way for more effective treatments and preventative measures.
The biobank, two years in the making, will collect, process, store, and distribute biospecimens for research purposes. It houses a vast collection of blood samples from individuals with various types of diabetes,including Type 1,Type 2,and gestational diabetes,all meticulously preserved for future scientific examination.
A Treasure Trove of Data: Two Key Studies Fueling the Biobank
The biobank’s rich collection stems from two major ICMR-funded studies: The ICMR-INDIAB study, a massive epidemiological investigation conducted from 2008 to 2020, sampled 120,000 individuals across India. This study provided a nationally representative dataset, including 33,537 urban and 79,506 rural participants across 31 states and union territories.
The second study, the Registry of People with Diabetes in India at a young Age at Onset, launched in 2006 and ongoing, has enrolled 5,546 participants with youth-onset diabetes from 205 centers across India. This data, combined with the ICMR-INDIAB findings, offers researchers an unparalleled prospect to understand the diverse genetic and environmental factors contributing to diabetes in India.
india’s Diabetes Challenge: A Global Concern
India’s high prevalence of diabetes is a significant global health concern. The sheer scale of the problem underscores the urgent need for innovative research and effective interventions. The Chennai biobank represents a beacon of hope,offering a potential pathway to breakthroughs that could benefit not only India but also other nations grappling with the diabetes epidemic.
The establishment of this biobank is a testament to india’s commitment to tackling this critical health issue. The potential for advancements in diabetes research and treatment stemming from this initiative is immense, offering a glimmer of hope for millions affected by this chronic disease.
India’s Diabetes Crisis: A Looming Public Health Threat
India,frequently enough referred to as the “diabetes capital of the world,” is grappling with a severe public health emergency. A recent ICMR-INDIAB study reveals over 100 million cases of diabetes and a staggering 136 million cases of prediabetes,placing India at the forefront of this global health challenge.
The situation is further intricate by alarmingly low awareness levels. The study found that only 43.2 percent of Indians are even aware of diabetes, highlighting a critical need for widespread public health initiatives focused on education and prevention.
Lifestyle factors are considerably contributing to this surge. Less than 10 percent of Indians engage in regular recreational physical activity, leading to a largely sedentary population and exacerbating the diabetes problem. The prevalence of diabetes among women has skyrocketed from 11.9 percent in 1990 to 23.7 percent in 2022, with a similar increase observed in men (from 11.3 percent to 21.4 percent).
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most prevalent forms, with average diagnosis ages of 12.9 ± 6.5 years and 21.7 ± 3.7 years, respectively. The crisis is further intensified by the sheer number of untreated cases. A 2022 Lancet study reported that 62 percent of diabetics in India – a staggering 133 million individuals – are not receiving any form of treatment or medication.
“From my experience as an endocrinologist, early detection and continuous care can drastically alter diabetes outcomes,” said Dr. Sachin Kumar Jain, professor and HOD, department of endocrinology at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, in an interview with the Times of India. “collaborative efforts between government bodies, healthcare professionals, and community organizations are vital to mitigate the burden of untreated diabetes in India, improve health literacy, and deliver timely, equitable care across all geographies.”
While India leads the world in diabetes cases, the problem is far from isolated. China follows with 148 million cases, followed by the U.S.(42 million), Pakistan (36 million), Indonesia (25 million), and Brazil (22 million). The scale of this global health challenge underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and innovative solutions.
