Indian Diabetes Risk Score
Check your type 2 diabetes risk in one minute with the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) — age, waist, activity and family history. Free, private, instant.
What is the Indian Diabetes Risk Score?
The IDRS was developed by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (Mohan et al., 2005) to find people in India who may have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. It uses just four things: age, waist size, physical activity and family history.
| Question | Points |
|---|---|
| Age: under 35 / 35–49 / 50+ | 0 / 20 / 30 |
| Waist — women: under 80 / 80–89 / 90+ cm | 0 / 10 / 20 |
| Waist — men: under 90 / 90–99 / 100+ cm | 0 / 10 / 20 |
| Activity: vigorous / moderate / mild / none | 0 / 10 / 20 / 30 |
| Family history: none / one parent / both | 0 / 10 / 20 |
| Total score | Risk |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Low |
| 30–50 | Medium |
| 60 or more | High — get a blood sugar test |
A high score does not mean you have diabetes — only a blood test (fasting glucose or HbA1c) can tell. But a score of 60 or more means you should get tested. Lower your risk with the diabetes diet plan, weight loss and 150 minutes of activity a week.
Frequently asked questions
Which test should I ask for?
A fasting blood glucose or an HbA1c test. HbA1c of 5.7–6.4% suggests prediabetes and 6.5% or more suggests diabetes (confirmed by a doctor).
Is this score valid outside India?
It was designed and validated in Indian adults. In the USA, the ADA/CDC prediabetes risk test is commonly used.
Can prediabetes be reversed?
Yes — losing 5–7% of body weight and being active 150 minutes a week cuts the risk of developing diabetes by more than half.
Sources: Mohan V et al. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (J Assoc Physicians India 2005) · CDC: Prediabetes
Reviewed for accuracy against the sources above. This page is general information, not medical advice — talk to your doctor about your own health.