India currently has more than 101 million diabetics, accounting for 11.4% of the population
Posted Date – 12:45 AM, Wed – 6/14/23
India currently has more than 101 million diabetics, accounting for 11.4% of the population
Waging war on calories is what India needs to do to shed its dubious image of being the diabetes capital of the world. The rising prevalence of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases is driven by a combination of factors – rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and smoking. Obesity and overweight are the most important risk factors for diabetes, and the disease burden can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research has shown that the prevalence of diabetes in the country is growing much faster than estimated. According to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, more than 101 million people in India, or 11.4 percent of the population, now suffer from diabetes, compared to 70 million in 2019. The study also showed that 136 million Indians are pre-diabetic, 213 million have high cholesterol, 185 million have high LDL or bad cholesterol, and 254 million are overall obese. The extensive study is based on a survey of 113,000 people aged 20 and over in urban and rural areas across the country from 2008 to 2020. These warning signs have serious national implications and urgent country-specific policies and interventions are needed to curb India’s rapidly rising metabolic noncommunicable disease (NCD) epidemic. Diabetes, primarily a lifestyle disease, is increasing at an alarming rate among people of all ages in India.
A lack of insulin, or the inability of cells to respond to it, can lead to high blood sugar — hyperglycemia — a clinical indicator of diabetes. If left unchecked for a long time, insufficient insulin can cause damage to many organs in the body, leading to life-threatening health complications. The countries with the largest number of adults with diabetes in the 20-79 age group are China, India and the United States, and are projected to remain so by 2030. Worryingly, in India a large number of children are also affected by diabetes mellitus. Children develop obesity and metabolic syndrome early on as diets shift toward more processed and fast food. Controlling diabetes is critical because it can be debilitating and even fatal if not treated or managed with medication and lifestyle changes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. However, in 60% of cases, diabetes can be reversed with a healthy diet and physical activity. Simple lifestyle changes with medications and regular monitoring of blood sugar are essential for most patients. With the rising trend of diabetes incidence in India, more effective health policy interventions are needed.
