Pune6: A new study by Pune-based Freedom from Diabetes Research Foundation (FFDRF) has identified important metabolic and clinical markers that are associated with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) among obese Indians. The study was published in the international journal Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare on 5 August 2026 ( https://doi.org/10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1809646) . The study team included Mrs. Anagha Vyawahare, Dr. Pramod Tripathi, Dr. Nidhi Kadam, Dr. Diptika Tiwari, Mrs. Baby Sharma, Dr. Thejas Kathrikolly, Dr. Malhar Ganla and Dr. Banshi Saboo.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant metabolic disorder with disproportionately high burden in obese South Asian populations, yet not all obese individuals develop the disease. This study identified the metabolic, inflammatory, and pharmacological markers associated with prevalent T2D in obese Indians using age- and sex-matched case-control analysis.
The study analysed data from 1,028 individuals, comprising 514 age- and sex-matched pairs of people with and without Type 2 diabetes. The participants were adults with obesity who had taken part in a one-year lifestyle intervention programme at FFD between June 2020 and August 2023.
The researchers found that poor beta-cell function, which affects the body’s ability to produce insulin, was the strongest marker associated with Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance was another important factor. Other markers included low HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), higher levels of the inflammation marker hsCRP, obesity (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m²), and the use of medication for high blood pressure.
The researchers also developed a statistical model using these markers to identify people more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. The model showed good performance and was tested on an independent group of 966 individuals, giving similar results.
According to the researchers, the findings highlight that obesity alone does not tell the complete story when assessing diabetes risk. Understanding insulin resistance, beta-cell function and other metabolic factors may help in identifying people at higher risk and developing more targeted prevention strategies.
The researchers, however, note that the findings require further external validation and prospective studies before the model can be used routinely in clinical practice.
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