As temperatures drop across Vidarbha and Nagpur, diabetes care needs sharper attention. The colder months often bring changes in daily routines—less physical activity, heavier meals, and disrupted sleep—which can make blood sugar management more difficult. For many in this region, diabetes does not always follow the familiar pattern of being linked to obesity or inactivity.

According to recent local findings, an alarming trend: more people in Vidarbha are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at younger ages, often despite being lean and outwardly healthy. This “atypical” form of diabetes shows that even those without obvious risk factors are not immune. Nearly 45% of rural India is now believed to be living with diabetes, underscoring how deeply the condition has spread beyond cities. In Nagpur alone, I have  observe that over 30,000 people may have diabetes without knowing it—many from semi-urban and rural belts where awareness and screening programs remain limited.

Lifestyle tendencies such as high stress, family history, hypertension, and prolonged sitting further add to the risk. Winter only amplifies these factors. The slowdown in outdoor activity, comfort eating, and festive indulgences can all make it harder to maintain steady blood sugar levels. That is why local healthcare teams are urging winter-specific testing and early detection programs, focusing not just on overweight or older adults but also on younger and leaner individuals who might otherwise be overlooked.

This World Diabetes Day, the message for Vidarbha is urgent but hopeful. Symptoms and early diagnosis are especially important during winter, when lifestyle shifts can mask rising sugar levels.

Early signs to watch for include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained tiredness, sudden weight changes, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, and frequent infections. Nearly 60% are asymptomatic, hence, I urge everyone to use this season as a reminder to get screened, stay active, and manage their health proactively—because understanding the changing face of diabetes is the first step toward controlling it.