Check your type 2 diabetes risk using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) - the only validated screening tool specifically designed for the Indian population.
Validated by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and adopted by ICMR as India's standard community screening tool.
| Parameter | Value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Age | < 35 years | 0 |
| 35 – 49 years | 20 | |
| ≥ 50 years | 30 | |
| Waist (men) | < 80 cm | 0 |
| 80 – 89 cm | 10 | |
| ≥ 90 cm | 20 | |
| Waist (women) | < 75 cm | 0 |
| 75 – 84 cm | 10 | |
| ≥ 85 cm | 20 | |
| Physical Activity | Vigorous exercise | 0 |
| Moderate exercise | 10 | |
| Sedentary / none | 20 | |
| Family History | No family history | 0 |
| One parent / sibling | 10 | |
| Both parents | 20 |
| Score | Risk Level | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 29 | Low Risk | Healthy lifestyle maintenance, retest in 3 years |
| 30 – 59 | Moderate Risk | Blood glucose test, lifestyle changes, annual retest |
| 60 – 90 | High Risk | Immediate blood glucose test, consult doctor now |
India has over 100 million people with diabetes - the second highest in the world - and an estimated 136 million with pre-diabetes who are largely unaware.
South Asians develop diabetes at younger ages and lower body weights than Western populations. IDRS uses Indian-specific waist cutoffs validated for our population.
Pre-diabetes and early-stage type 2 diabetes are reversible with lifestyle changes. Knowing your risk early gives you the best chance to act before damage occurs.
Select your age group, enter your waist measurement, choose your activity level and indicate your family history of diabetes.
The calculator sums your risk-factor scores (0–90) and maps them to Low, Moderate or High risk using ICMR-validated thresholds.
Follow the recommended action for your risk level - from lifestyle maintenance for low risk to immediate blood glucose testing for high risk.
ICMR recommends all Indians above 35 be screened for diabetes. This tool provides a quick first check before a blood test.
If one or both parents have diabetes, your risk is significantly higher. Use IDRS to quantify your risk and motivate preventive action.
Sedentary office workers in India face rapidly increasing diabetes rates. Check your risk and use the result to motivate lifestyle changes.
Doctors and NGOs conducting community health camps use IDRS to triage who needs a blood glucose test without expensive equipment.
Women who had gestational diabetes are at significantly higher lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes. IDRS helps assess ongoing risk.
HR and wellness teams use IDRS in employee health programmes to identify high-risk individuals who need preventive counselling.
India is the world's second-largest diabetic nation, with approximately 101 million people living with diabetes as of 2023 - according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), developed by Dr. V. Mohan and colleagues at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in 2005, is a validated, low-cost screening tool designed specifically for the Indian population. It uses four parameters - age, abdominal obesity (waist circumference), physical activity level, and family history of diabetes - to calculate a risk score without requiring any blood tests.
South Asians, including Indians, develop Type 2 diabetes at lower BMI levels compared to Western populations - a phenomenon linked to higher visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and genetic predisposition. The ICMR recommends using waist circumference (above 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women) rather than BMI as a more accurate obesity marker for Indians. Urban lifestyle changes - sedentary jobs, high-carbohydrate diets, and stress - have accelerated diabetes onset to as early as the 30s in Indian city dwellers.
An IDRS score below 30 indicates low risk, 30-50 indicates moderate risk, and above 50 indicates high risk - warranting a clinical blood glucose test. This calculator produces one of three risk categories with actionable advice. Early detection can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes through diet modification, exercise, and medical supervision. Consult a qualified physician for a formal diagnosis.