Expert Reveals How Physical Inactivity Is A Silent Risk Factor Driving India's Diabetes Epidemic, Shares Tips To Manage and Control

When it comes to a fast-paced world, India is not far behind. The new normal is a world where long work hours, digital dependence, and shrinking open spaces are becoming common, many health risks hide in plain sight. This is also one of the leading causes of the rise in diabetes cases in India. While stress, genes, or poor diet are commonly blamed for the rising number of diabetes cases, experts say that the biggest culprit is physical inactivity.

People across cities are moving less than ever before, and this is quietly fuelling India's Type 2 diabetes crisis. Read ahead to know how and ways to manage and control it.

How Sedentary Lifestyle Leads to Diabetes

According to a recent study, supported by USV Private Limited, a healthcare organisation working extensively in the care for diabetes:

• The main reason for uncontrolled diabetes, according to about 85% of the people with diabetes, was lack of physical activity.
• 77.8% were stressed, and 56.9% had unhealthy eating habits, 
• This means that even when people know what's causing harm, they're still unable to stay active enough to manage their health.

Are Indians Really Comfortable with Sedentary Lifestyle?

According to one of India's largest diabetes surveys, ICMR-INDIAB study: 

• 54.4% of adults over 20 are physically inactive
• In towns and cities, inactivity increases to 65%.
• In rural areas, it is about 50%
• Over 90 percent of people do no recreational exercise at all.

This means that most Indians are barely moving beyond basic daily tasks. With technology-driven jobs, long traffic jams, and fewer safe public spaces, moving our bodies has become harder than ever.

ALSO READ- Is Coconut Oil Good for Diabetes? Expert Shares

How Too Much Sitting Hurts the Body

Diabetes cases have been rising fast in India, especially among young and middle-aged adults, and physical inactivity is a big reason behind the increasing trend. According to our expert Dr Ritesh Kumar Chaudhary, Consultant Diabetologist, Kanpur, when we cease moving, here’s what happens to our body: 

• Metabolism slows
• Insulin becomes less effective
• Fat starts to store in the stomach
• Body weight increases
• Blood sugar becomes harder to control

“Over time, this results in insulin resistance, which is one of the primary driving factors for Type 2 diabetes,” he explained.

Dr Chaudhary added, “Every bit of movement helps the body use insulin better, which is why even simple, everyday activity makes a huge difference in preventing diabetes.”

Is It Same For Men and Women?

The risk is even higher for many Indian women. Blood sugar is harder to control in women because of hormonal shifts during pregnancy, postpartum changes, and menopause. Additionally, women also have heavy family responsibilities and limited personal time, which make it even worse.

In most cases, women postpone health check-ups until symptoms become severe, which can lead to late diagnoses and complications.

ALSO READ- Recurrent UTIs After 50? Expert Suggests Get Your Blood Sugar Checked NOW

How India Can Reverse the Diabetes Trend

Since the major cause of diabetes in India is physical inactivity, it makes it fixable also. Here’s what you can do: 

• Take walking breaks, stand for a few minutes, or join fitness programs
• Aim for 150 minutes of activity a week (30 minutes, 5 days a week)
• Take stairs, walk short distances, do household chores actively
• Even 10 to 15 minute walks help
• If you enjoy pickle ball, dance, yoga, sports, gardening, walking with friends, that is good enough too.

Dr Chaudhary concluded that physical inactivity works silently, you may not feel the damage at once, but it accumulates with time and directly leads to chronic diseases like diabetes.

Bottomline

Staying active is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to prevent and control diabetes, and India needs to get moving now.