It is not hidden that India indeed is the diabetes capital of the world. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 77 million people in the country are living with diabetes, and 25 million of them are prediabetic.
Not only that, but there has been an increase in chronic conditions in India too, all thanks to the lifestyle. In fact, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research, 56.4% of the total disease burden in India comes from unhealthy diets. This has led to cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and high cholesterol.
So, how can someone stay a step ahead of all that? Dr Brijmohan Arora, a senior diabetologist from Delhi suggested 5 biomarkers that can help you stay a step ahead of the chronic diseases. These tests can help you live a longer and healthier life.
“Most doctors still rely on superficial tests, but in 2025 we have far more powerful biomarkers to predict your future health,” says Dr Arora. The doctor explains that basic tests like a standard lipid or cholesterol panel only give a surface level picture, however, advanced biomarkers dig deeper and can help in catching risks earlier and reveal what is happening inside your blood vessels and metabolism even before the disease shows up.
The Five Biomarkers To Keep You Healthy
ApoB
“ApoB is like a bullet that enters your arteries, it’s the most advanced and accurate form of cholesterol testing,” the doctor says.
What ApoB means:
- ApoB (Apolipoprotein-B) counts the actual number of harmful cholesterol-carrying particles in your blood.
- These particles directly drive plaque formation.
- It is more predictive of heart attack risk than LDL alone.
Why it matters:
Two people with the same LDL cholesterol can have very different ApoB levels. The one with higher ApoB is at higher risk. The doctor calls it the “single most accurate marker of heart-attack risk”.
HS-CRP
“High-sensitivity CRP and homocysteine are inflammation markers, they help predict inflammation of the heart and blood vessels,” he says.
What hs-CRP means:
- A highly sensitive test that detects tiny amounts of inflammation, especially in arteries.
- Elevated hs-CRP is linked to heart attacks, stroke, plaque instability, and chronic disease.
What Homocysteine means:
An amino acid that, when elevated, increases risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and cognitive decline.
Often linked to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
Why they matter:
They don’t diagnose disease… they predict risk, which makes them powerful preventive markers.
Homocysteine
It is an amino acid that is naturally found in the blood that can be harmful to the lining of the artery walls when levels are high. Its levels are influenced by factors like vitamin deficiencies (especially B12, B6, and folate), genetics, and kidney disease. Dr Arora notes that high levels of this could mean higher risk of stroke, dementia, and clotting diseases.
Fasting Insulin
“Fasting insulin gives us a window into the future, it picks up abnormalities long before sugar levels rise.”
What Fasting Insulin means:
- Measures how hard your pancreas is working to keep your sugar normal.
- High fasting insulin = early insulin resistance.
Why it matters:
You can have completely normal glucose and HbA1c, yet be on the path to prediabetes, diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, and PCOS years in advance.
This test detects problems before they appear on regular reports.
Omega-3 Index
“Omega-3 Index gives deep insight into your metabolic health and risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s.”
What Omega-3 Index means:
Measures the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids in your red blood cells.
Higher levels are linked to:
- Better metabolic health
- Lower inflammation
- Heart protection
- Improved brain function
- Lower dementia risk
Why it matters:
Few labs offer it, but it’s one of the strongest markers of long-term inflammation and cell health.