43% higher diabetes risk in those exposed to famine in early life

Bhubaneswar: Individuals exposed to famine during early life have 43% higher risk of developing Type2 diabetes, according to a new meta-analysis led by Indian Council of Medical Research researchers.The study led by Awakash Turkar of ICMR and published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice on April 30, analysed 40 global studies conducted between 1995 and 2025, covering over 1.2 crore participants. It found that the risk rose further to 47% in recent studies (2016-2025), indicating growing evidence of the long-term impact of early life undernutrition.Researchers said individuals exposed to prolonged or severe famine were particularly vulnerable. Those experiencing famine for more than three years faced a significantly higher risk (79%), while women were found to be more affected than men, showing a 52% higher risk of developing diabetes.The analysis by eight researchers also revealed that foetal-stage exposure and adolescence were critical periods when nutritional deprivation had lasting metabolic consequences. Scientists attribute this to long-term changes in insulin function, glucose metabolism and hormonal regulation triggered by undernutrition during key development stages.The findings are based on the development origins of health and disease (DOHaD) theory, which suggests that environmental stress in early life can permanently programme the body’s metabolism, increasing vulnerability to chronic diseases in adulthood.Despite variations across regions and study designs, the overall association remained consistent, with most evidence emerging from studies on the Chinese Great Famine and European famine events.“The study highlights the need to strengthen maternal and child nutrition programmes and prioritise early screening of populations exposed to food insecurity. Famine is not just a historical event but a life-course determinant of chronic disease,” said Sanghamitra Pati, additional DG of ICMR, and one of the authors of the study.With diabetes cases rising sharply worldwide, Pati said, the study underscores the importance of long-term public health strategies focusing on food security, early-life care and preventive interventions to reduce the burden of metabolic disorders.She said food security is an important factor that influences people’s risk of developing diabetes. “The study says that nutritional deprivation during key developmental periods may have lasting metabolic effects. That’s why nutritional security is also required for people,” she added.