India today faces a massive diabetes crisis, with over 101 million people affected. But new research highlights a shocking historical link: British colonial policies may have permanently shaped South Asians’ genetic susceptibility to the disease.

During colonial rule, India - once a food-rich nation - was pushed into repeated famines, many caused not by drought but by exploitative policies. Between 1857 and 1947, at least 25 major famines killed over 60 million people, while food was exported to Britain. Survivors of starvation developed what scientists call “starvation adaptation” - a genetic shift making bodies resistant to insulin, which later triggered diabetes. This adaptation was passed down to future generations, making Indians more vulnerable even today.

The Bengal famine of 1943, worsened by Winston Churchill’s refusal to supply grains, killed 3 million people. Similarly, the Great Famine of 1876–78 saw millions die while wheat was exported to England. Such tragedies left long-lasting scars on Indian health.

Post-1991 liberalisation, changing diets, junk food, sedentary lifestyles, and stress only worsened this predisposition. Experts now call India’s diabetes crisis a “ticking time bomb,” but emphasize that lifestyle changes can reduce risks despite historical burdens.