Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency is believed to be widespread in Indian population. However, more data is needed to fuel a meaningful debate on preventive and therapeutic strategies. Aims and Objectives: Objective of the current study is to evaluate status of vitamin B12 levels in people from a tier 3 city and among people living in an urban area with or without diabetes. Settings and Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methodology: Data captured in electronic medical records (EMR) of an endocrine practice and from a diagnostic laboratory was analysed. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using open source software “Jamovi”. Results: Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (Vitamin B12 levels <200 pg/ml) in tier 3 city was 47.19% ( n = 267). From an urban endocrine practice, database of 11913 patients was searched for reports of vitamin B12 levels. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 37.76% in people with pre-diabetes ( n = 92), 31.23% in people with endocrine problems other than diabetes and pre-diabetes ( n = 285) and 18.25% in people with diabetes ( n = 378). Tier 3 city population had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels than people living in an urban area and attending an endocrine clinic. Vitamin B12 levels were significantly higher in people with diabetes as compared to people with other endocrine problems. Conclusion: Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is 47% in north Indian population. People with diabetes have higher vitamin B12 levels than general population though still have high prevalence of deficiency. This data shows that Vitamin B12 deficiency is widespread in Indian population.

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Context:Indian population is known to develop diabetes at lower body mass index (BMI) and younger age than their western counterparts. However, data on the prevalence of overweight/obesity in people with diabetes have not been well documented in the Indian literature. The current study also establishes time trends for the age of onset of diabetes mellitus type 2 in Urban India.Aims:The aim of this study was to analyze the current trend in the presentation of people with diabetes in a metropolitan city (Urban residents) in context to age, sex, and BMI.Settings and Design:Retrospective cross-sectional study.Subjects and Methods:Data captured in clinic electronic medical records from May 2015 to March 2017 are analyzed. The profile of newly diagnosed diabetes is also presented.Statistical Analysis Used:Data were analyzed descriptively and for statistical analysis, SPSS software was used.Results:A total of 1473 patients with age 52.6 ± 12.7 (mean ± standard deviation) and BMI of 27.86 ± 4.83 kg/m2 were analyzed. About 17.6% were overweight; 71.5% were obese. The significant higher proportion of females was overweight/obese (91.2% vs. 82% of males; P < 0.0001). Females had significantly higher mean BMI than males (29.19 ± 4.99 vs. 26.93 ± 4.83; P ≤ 0.001). Overall, mean HbA1c of patients was 7.84% ±1.61% with no significant difference between genders. However, there was no difference in mean HbA1c based on either gender or BMI category. Among people with new-onset diabetes, there was even higher proportion of people with BMI ≥23 kg/m2 (overall 89.1%, males 87.6%, and females 91.6%). About 43.8% of people presented at <40 years age. Totally, 49.5% of males presented at age <40 years as compared to 33.9% of females.Conclusions:The prevalence of obesity among people with diabetes in Indian setting is now as high as in western studies. Indians are now presenting with diabetes at even earlier age with higher BMI.