Diabetes Awareness Must Begin in Adolescence, Say Medical Experts

Pune, 7th September 2026: With unhealthy lifestyle changes fueling a rise in diabetes and obesity in India and across the world, awareness about diabetes must begin during adolescence, said senior medical experts Dr. Sanjay Gupte and Dr. Jayant Navrange. They stressed the need to communicate health information to the tech-savvy younger generation through platforms and language familiar to them.

The experts were speaking at ‘Reimagining Health with the Dixit Lifestyle’, a special program organized by Sucheta Swastham. Dr Jagannath Dixit, founder of the Dixit Lifestyle initiative, Sucheta Godbole Deshpande, founder of Sucheta Swastham, Rahul Deshpande and former corporator Madhuri Sahasrabudhe were among those present. The Dixit Lifestyle mobile application initiative was also launched at the event held at the Harshal Hall on Karve Road.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Gupte said, “The rising number of people developing diabetes, particularly at a young age is indeed a matter of concern. There is significant evidence of a genetic component in diabetes, and research into the genetic factors associated with the disease needs to be strengthened. Such research has already begun in some parts of the world.”

He said the earlier approach of paying greater attention to health only after the age of 40 needed to change. “Given the present situation, awareness needs to begin much earlier. Providing young people with reliable information about diabetes through a technology-based app is therefore a welcome step,” he said. He added that nutrigenomics testing at a young age could also prove beneficial.

Dr Gupte also highlighted the growing incidence of PCOS among young women, involving hormonal imbalance, metabolic changes, insulin resistance and ovarian dysfunction. He said the prevalence was currently estimated at 15 to 20 per cent and warned that it could increase further if the issue was not addressed.

Dr Navrange shared findings from health screenings conducted in schools. “A few years ago, when we visited government schools, the major concerns were weakness, low weight and malnutrition. Today, even these schools are reporting obesity among around 15 to 20 percent of students. This is worrying,” he said.

The Dixit Lifestyle app, he said, could help alert young people at an early age, encourage them to monitor their diet and lifestyle and improve health awareness. He added that diet played a crucial role in diabetes management.

Dr Jagannath Dixit said an estimated 12 crore people in India were living with diabetes. “I am an ordinary person with an extraordinary dream of creating a society free from diabetes and obesity,” he said, expressing confidence that the app would contribute towards achieving this goal.

The Dixit Lifestyle concept has now reached more than 40 countries, he said. The app would help younger people adopt the lifestyle and maintain consistency. It would also generate substantial data that could support research in the field. “The data will be reliable and its authenticity will be beyond doubt. The initiative will also help spread awareness about diabetes and preventive measures among the public,” Dr Dixit said.

Recalling his mother’s premature death due to diabetes, Dr Dixit said, “She wanted me to become a doctor, and I fulfilled that dream. But she died of diabetes at the age of 65. I regret that the Dixit Lifestyle did not exist then.”

Sucheta Godbole Deshpande said many people resolved to begin making changes “from tomorrow”, but that tomorrow often never arrived. “The Dixit Lifestyle app has been developed to turn that ‘tomorrow’ into ‘today’. It is not merely technology, but an attempt to put Dr Dixit’s ideas directly into people’s hands. The message is simple, our health is in our hands, literally at our fingertips,” she said.

Rahul Deshpande said the mobile application was developed in Silicon Valley using modern AI technology and was being positioned as India’s first AI-based health companion. The responses provided by the app would be based entirely on Dr Jagannath Dixit’s study and experience in diabetes and weight management, he said.

Advocate Sanket Dongre, Suresh Kokate, Dr Pooja Nangre and Dr Ramesh Bade, who said they had overcome diabetes after adopting the Dixit Lifestyle, shared their experiences at the programme.

Rahul Deshpande proposed the vote of thanks, while Dr Pushkar Khair anchored the event. The programme began with a musical performance by noted composer Avinash Chandrachud and accompanying artistes, anchored by lyricist Dr Prasad Biware.