West Bengal’s diabetes numbers are worse than India’s average. Here’s why

West Bengal has seen a sharp rise in the number of cases with higher blood sugar levels that outnumber the national average among both men and women, according to the latest National Family Health Survey.  

As per the NFHS-6, 9.4 per cent of women in West Bengal fall in the 'high' blood sugar category (141–160 mg/dl), while 12.1 per cent have already crossed into the 'very high' category (above 160 mg/dl). At the national level, the corresponding figures are significantly lower, with 7.5 per cent of women in the 'high' category and 9.1 per cent in the 'very high' category. 

A similar spike can be seen among men. A staggering 11.3 per cent men are in the 'high' category of blood sugar levels, while 14.3 per cent are in the very high category. At a pan-India level, the numbers are much lower.  Only 8.8 per cent are in the 'high' category, while 10.9 per cent men are in the 'very high' category.  

What is more concerning is that a staggering 22.7 per cent of women having blood sugar levels above 140 mg/dl fall after taking medicines, while a massive 26.8 per cent of men fall in the same category. This shows that the blood sugar levels are getting difficult to control in the state. 

According to the NFHS-6 data, only 17.8 per cent of men and 20.9 per cent of women continue to have blood sugar levels above 140 mg/dl even after taking medicines. Data shows that West Bengal has exceeded every indicator for both men and women, turning this into a public health emergency. West Bengal also shows a rise in all indicators from its previous NFHS-5 data published in 2022.

Problem for decades

A 2005 study shows that diabetes in the state has a clear pattern. Conducted across all ages, a prevalence of 1.66 per cent in rural areas, 3 per cent in industrial zones, and 4.8 per cent in urban areas was noticed, pointing to a lifestyle and socio-economic difference as key drivers.  

A 2023 study done after the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), conducted on the older adult population of West Bengal. The prevalence of diabetes among those aged 45 and above was seen to be at 12.4 per cent, which was significantly higher in urban areas at 19 per cent compared to the rural areas, which were at 6 per cent. The study shows, “the unequal distribution of resources increases the trend of rural-urban differences in diabetes prevalence in the state.” 

People who are more at risk

The data shows that wealthier, more educated, urban residents are more likely to have diabetes. The risks of diabetes among the richest adults in West Bengal were nearly three times higher than among the poorest adults. This might seem counterintuitive until you look at what wealth brings: desk jobs, cars, processed food, and less physical movement.

Researchers have repeatedly linked the higher risks of diabetes among older adults to social and cultural changes, particularly increasing urbanisation, dietary changes, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviour. 

A 2020 study conducted among rural adults of West Bengal’s Amdanga in North 24 Parganas found something alarming. Among 104 adults who had not yet been diagnosed with diabetes, 45.2 per cent were already at moderate risk and another 45.2 per cent were at high risk of developing it, meaning only 9.6 per cent were in the clear. The biggest cause of this was physical inactivity.  

A striking 68.3 per cent of those surveyed were not doing any exercise and had sedentary activities, leaving their bodies with little protection against the disease. Women fared worse than men, with 48.4 per cent of women falling in the high-risk category compared to 40 per cent of men. Widows and those with high blood pressure were especially vulnerable. The study, conducted by researchers from R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, concluded that mass screening and early lifestyle interventions are urgently needed even in rural Bengal, where the diabetes crisis is no longer a distant urban problem.  

The knowledge gap is making it worse  

A 2024 study from Kolkata found that patients across all income groups had similarly poor knowledge about diabetes. Before attending any education sessions, the median knowledge score was 8 out of 15 across all socioeconomic groups, regardless of whether they were wealthy or not.  

The structured education sessions improved awareness across all classes, with nearly 52 per cent of patients losing the knowledge they had gained within an average of 15.5 months, suggesting that one-time education is simply not enough. The study concluded that “DSME (Diabetes Self-Management Education) sessions were effective in improving knowledge and awareness among T2D (Type-2 Diabetes) patients, irrespective of socioeconomic classes in Eastern India," but the gains were not retained equally, with wealthier, more educated patients holding on to more of what they learned. 

For women, the picture has another layer of complexity. A 2025 international review published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation on diabetes and women's health found that conditions specific to women, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes, significantly increase long-term diabetes risk and are often left unaddressed.  

Women who have a history of gestational diabetes are "7 to 11 times more likely to develop subsequent Type 2 diabetes," according to the review. Their children also face a higher risk of obesity and metabolic disorders, creating a cycle that passes from one generation to the next. The review emphasised that managing diabetes in women requires looking at their entire life, from puberty through pregnancy and beyond, rather than treating each episode in isolation. 

What do the doctors say?

Dr Avijit Bhattacharya, senior consultant and HOD, Internal Medicine at Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, Kolkata, attributes the rise to a combination of factors. "Genetically, South Asians are more predisposed to diabetes. People here have more carbs in their meals, eat junk food and there is a lack of physical activity," which he believes is the reason behind the rise.  

He also flagged late diagnosis as a serious concern. Dr Bhattacharya noted that diabetes produces no symptoms initially, making it easy to miss without routine checkups.  

“Unless one goes through some annual checkup or some mandatory checkup, it's quite likely that you will be diagnosed late,” he added. 

Dr Bhattacharya was clear when asked why West Bengal exceeds every national average. "Preventive health care in the government system is practically zero," he pointed out, adding that a vast chunk of patients are not being screened and addressed, as they cannot afford to go to a private hospital or a private physician. West Bengal sees more than 2-5 per cent in every indicator from the national averages, according to the NHFS-6 data.

Dr Narayan Banerjee, consultant and physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, similarly pointed to three key reasons behind the rise: genetic predisposition, lifestyle changes among the young, and a lack of awareness.  

"Our young generation is fond of junk food, taking in more carbohydrates, busy on screens for almost 18 hours a day, and not doing physical work, which is causing diabetes,” he highlighted. He, however, added that a huge chunk of diabetes in patients is caused by genes.  

Dr Banerjee confirmed the urban-rural divide, noting that rural populations remain more physically active while urban residents, particularly those in the middle and higher income groups, are far more sedentary. He also blamed a widespread lack of awareness across both urban and rural populations, where dangerous myths continue to persist. "Patients tell me my sugar will never increase because I am taking jaggery instead of sugar," he said. 

This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS