Doctors Warn of Rising 'Lean Diabetes' in India: Slim People at Risk

• Doctors in India are observing a rise in 'lean diabetes,' where Type 2 diabetes affects individuals who are not overweight by conventional BMI standards.
• Dr Gagandeep Singh highlights that 20-30% of Indians with Type 2 diabetes are not overweight, emphasizing that fat storage location, not just body weight, is the real issue.
• BMI is an inaccurate indicator for Indians; Dr Singh recommends tracking waist-to-height ratio (above 0.5 is a red flag) as visceral fat around organs is metabolically harmful.
• Standard fasting glucose tests often miss early metabolic problems; Dr Singh advises fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR scores, and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) for earlier detection.
• The typical Indian diet, high in carbohydrates and low in protein, contributes to metabolic dysfunction; dietary restructuring with increased protein and reduced refined carbs shows improvements.