Diabetes Diagnoses Shift Younger: Average Age Of Detection Drops From 43 To 38 Years, Zandra Healthcare Study Finds

Mumbai, November 13, 2026 - Diabetes diagnoses are shifting to younger age groups, with the average age of detection dropping from 43 to 38 years, according to an analysis by Zandra Healthcare. The study, comparing pre- and post-pandemic data, reveals a concerning trend among younger patients. The analysis examined 7,274 patients and 45,083 visits before the pandemic, compared to 8,712 patients and 53,927 visits in the five years following.

A significant increase was seen in newly diagnosed patients with less than three years of diabetes history, rising from 24% to 38%. Diagnosis patterns also changed, with over 80% of patients identified through proactive screening in the post-pandemic period, before they developed noticeable symptoms. Lifestyle factors, such as long working hours, remote work, increased consumption of outside food, and workplace stress, played a major role in the post-pandemic group, which was also more balanced gender-wise, with male patients declining from 64% to 58%.

Concerns arose over diabetes-related complications, with more cases of kidney damage, eye damage, and abnormal cholesterol levels in the post-pandemic group. Dr Rajiv Kovil, a Diabetes and Obesity Specialist at Zandra Healthcare, emphasized the need for early detection followed by sustained lifestyle changes and workplace wellness programs to address this growing issue.