SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a significant rise in diabetes cases over the past three financial years, placing the Union Territory among the regions showing a steady upward trend in non-communicable diseases. The figures were shared in the Rajya Sabha after S Selvaganabathy sought details on the national rise in diabetes and thyroid disorders, the causes driving the increase, and the Government’s response.
According to data placed on the House record by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, Jammu and Kashmir screened more than 2.15 million people for diabetes in 2023–24. Of these, 48,623 individuals were diagnosed and nearly all were placed under treatment. The following year, screenings rose to 3.65 million and the number of diagnosed patients increased to 83,737. The current financial year has already seen 2.84 million people screened, and 85,948 found diabetic and placed under treatment. Officials described these numbers as part of a broader national rise in lifestyle-related diseases.
The Union Territory’s trajectory reflects a national pattern. India screened more than 81 million people in 2023–24, diagnosing just over 5 million diabetics. The number of screenings almost doubled to 157 million the next year, with 8.98 million people diagnosed. In the current financial year, more than 114 million people have already been screened and over 9 million found diabetic. The Ministry cited the ICMR’s long-term assessment, which recorded that the contribution of non-communicable diseases to India’s disease burden more than doubled between 1990 and 2016, rising from 30.5 per cent to 55.4 per cent. The Government said that diabetes, thyroid disorders, cancer and cardiovascular diseases now account for a majority share of India’s health burden.
Responding to the question, the Government attributed the rise in diabetes to a combination of tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, low levels of physical activity, obesity, and high consumption of salt, sugar and saturated fats. Thyroid disorders were described as resulting from autoimmune conditions, iodine deficiency and inflammation. The Health Ministry said it has launched a population-wide screening campaign under the National Health Mission to detect diabetes and hypertension among all adults above 30 years of age. This is being implemented through the country’s network of district and community health centres, where 770 district NCD clinics and more than 6,000 NCD clinics at the community level have been established. Cardiac care units and speciality NCD clinics have also been set up to strengthen diagnosis and treatment.
In Jammu and Kashmir, officials said screening under the national programme has expanded rapidly through Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, allowing the administration to detect cases earlier and place patients under treatment. The Government added that lifestyle campaigns and community-level health promotion are being used to reduce future risks.
As States submit proposals based on local needs, India’s national NCD response continues to widen with the rising patient load. Jammu and Kashmir’s numbers, placed in Parliament, indicate that the Union Territory has now entered the cluster of regions reporting sustained annual increases in diabetes, aligning with the broader national trend described by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
