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Journal of Nutrition Research
An official journal of IAPEN India association

Article

Journal of Nutrition Research

Year: 2025, Volume: 13, Issue: 2, Pages: 37-45

Original Article

Prevalence of Diabetes Risk in Kerala Using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS): Insights for Public Health Action

Received Date:21 September 2025, Accepted Date:28 November 2025, Published Date:12 December 2025

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing global health concern, with lifestyle changes and inactivity fueling its rise. A community-based cross-sectional study in Kerala, India (Nov–Dec 2023), assessed diabetes risk among 714 adults (18–90 years) across 14 districts using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS). Findings showed 65.2% at moderate risk and 26.8% at high risk, with variations by age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, and region. Women had a higher high-risk proportion than men (28.6% vs. 21.4%). Obesity was a key determinant, as 39.3% with Obesity Class II were at high risk. Regional analysis revealed South Kerala as the most affected (36.5% high risk). Participants with comorbidities showed significantly greater vulnerability. These results highlight the urgent need for robust public health strategies focusing on diabetes education, early screening, and targeted interventions. Bridging the gap between awareness and action is critical to mitigating Kerala’s diabetes burden and its socio-economic consequences.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), Obesity, Comorbidities, Kerala, Community-based study, Public health

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Copyright

© This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Published By India Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (IAPEN)

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