Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), serious chronic diseases that are not transmitted from person to person, include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung diseases, and are the leading causes of death worldwide. These diseases are often driven by lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and excessive consumption of alcohol. The disease burden in India is alarming: 20% of the population suffers from at least one chronic disease, and 10% have more than one chronic condition. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 70% of deaths globally occur due to these diseases.

Diabetes is a major concern, especially in India. One in ten Indians currently lives with diabetes, totaling about 101 million individuals. Additionally, another 136 million people are in the pre-diabetic stage, putting them at high risk of developing diabetes within 5 years. Alarmingly, these numbers are projected to rise, signaling a staggering public health challenge for the country.

More about diabetes in India. Diabetes affects people in rural and urban India, and at all socioeconomic levels. In metro cities up to 75% of the adults are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. Indians get diabetes noticeably young at age 30, some 10-20 years earlier than people in the West. Also, diabetes is a progressive disease and can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, foot amputations, blindness, and other complications.

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages is enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 3. Though cases of diabetes are on the rise and the disease is impacting a significant portion of the population of India, awareness around the causes, effects, preventive measures, and treatment is still low. Here, the role of education becomes extremely important to help the citizens understand the disease better.

According to the World Health Organization 80% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented with 3 lifestyle changes – one must eat right, increase physical activity, and avoid tobacco. But people must understand this and be empowered to take charge of their own health journeys.

Take physical activity for instance. Half the adult Indian population does not meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines on sufficient physical activity, according to new data published in the Lancet Global Health. And 3 out of 4 of India’s teens do not move enough. It is important to encourage physical activity from a young age to lower the possibility of developing NCDs, especially diabetes when the children grow up.

Why adolescents? 10% of India’s children and adolescents from 5 – 19 years are pre-diabetic and a third of India’s 10-year-olds have high blood pressure. To address this, in 2011, Arogya World established a two-year school-based programme for diabetes awareness and prevention education. The Healthy Schools programme uses influencers such as teachers and student peer leaders to reach and educate 11- to 14-year-olds about diabetes and its prevention in the school setting, reaching these children at an impressionable age before their lifestyle habits are set. The programme, aligned with Ayushman Bharat National School Health curriculum, has been implemented in 1.35 million kids in multiple states and is currently being rolled out district wide in several districts of West Bengal and in Banda district of UP state. We are inspired by Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world."  Arogya World is therefore striving to set the next generation up for a lifetime of health by educating the children through compelling age-appropriate games and activities, about why and how to make healthy habits part of their daily lives.

Let’s understand why it is important for schools to educate students about the prevention of diabetes for their long-term health and well-being:

Data from various parts of India from 2015-2022 has shown >15% increase in comprehensive awareness about diabetes and its risk factors, 10% increase in physical activity and >7.5% improvement in composite eating scores i.e., fruit and vegetable intake increased, and junk food and sugary drink consumption decreased. We are encouraged by these results and by the enthusiastic anecdotes and responses from scores of children about how much they value this program.

Arogya’s schools program shows how education plays an instrumental role in bringing about positive and significant change in the lives of adolescents. By integrating health education into their school curriculum, students learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles, including proper nutrition and regular physical activity, at an early stage of life. This would help them make better decisions about their health as they grow up to become productive world citizens.

Educating the young generation about the preventive measures for diabetes can significantly improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, enhance community health, empower individuals, and contribute to long-term sustainable development. Creating better awareness around balanced diet, physical activity, weight management, early detection and intervention can help in enabling the younger generation to know more about the importance of a healthy life. This can help create an environment that supports wellbeing, leading to a cultural shift towards lifestyle and wellness.