Fact check: The british are the reason india is diabetic

1. Summary of the results

The analyses strongly support a causal link between British colonial rule and increased diabetes susceptibility in India, though through more complex mechanisms than the original statement suggests. Multiple sources confirm that during British rule:

• 25 major famines occurred over 90 years, causing approximately 60 million deaths ^{[1] [2] [2]}
• The frequency of famines increased dramatically from 0.84 to 2.83 per century during the British Raj ^[3]
• These famines triggered genetic adaptations that make Indians significantly more prone to diabetes:
• Six times more likely than Europeans to develop type 2 diabetes ^[4]
• Even exposure to a single famine can double diabetes risk in subsequent generations ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement oversimplifies a complex scientific phenomenon. Important additional context includes:

• The mechanism is primarily through epigenetic changes and the "thrifty genotype hypothesis" ^{[4] [6]}
• Colonial policies also disrupted traditional dietary patterns and created food insecurity ^[3]
• The impact spans multiple generations through genetic adaptations that helped people survive famines by storing energy more efficiently ^[2]
• At least 31 famines occurred in South Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries, as noted by Dr. Mubin Syed ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the evidence supports a strong connection between British colonial policies and increased diabetes risk in India, the original statement:

• Oversimplifies the complex scientific mechanisms involved
• Ignores the temporal aspect - these changes occurred over generations through epigenetic adaptations
• Fails to acknowledge that the increased diabetes risk is a side effect of survival adaptations that actually helped people survive during periods of extreme food scarcity ^[2]
• Does not mention that these genetic changes were a biological response to environmental conditions rather than a direct action by the British

The scientific community benefits from maintaining objectivity in this discussion, as it helps understand similar phenomena in other populations affected by historical famines and colonial policies.