A ticking time bomb

Dr V Mohan | 01-April-2014

An estimated 77 million people in India are pre-diabetes. A large percentage of them will convert to diabetes in the near future unless they take some preventive measures

The incidence of diabetes is rapidly rising all over the globe at an alarming rate. India, which is experiencing rapid socio-economic progress and urbanisation, carries a considerable share of the global diabetes burden. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, India Diabetes (ICMR–INDIAB) study, India had 62.4 million people with diabetes in 2011. Socio-economic development over the last 40-50 years has resulted in a dramatic shift in diet, physical activity, health and nutrition. Diabetes rates increase with changes from traditional to modern, leading to less physical inactivity due to technological advancements. Affluence has led to consumption of diets rich in fat, sugar and calories and an increased mental stress. 

Luckily, a lot can quite easily be done to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. The only way to have an impact on reducing the burden of diabetes is to detect the disorder early. If the disorder asymptomatic, regular screening is the only way to detect diabetes at an early stage. Prevention and targeted control of the risk factors of diabetes could potentially reduce the impact of diabetes in the developing world. Evidence suggests that lifestyle changes could prevent and/or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups by integrating modified lifestyle with incorporation of physical activity and appropriate nutrition. The following ‘Five Steps’ can be adopted to prevent diabetes:

• Increase intake of healthy diet (following a traditional pattern with high in fibre, low in fat, calories and sugar intake)
• Increase one’s physical activity (walking at least for 30 minutes 3 times/week)
• Maintain ideal body weight
• Reduce stress (meditation, exercise, counseling, time management etc.)
• Screening at regular intervals to detect early stages of the disorder

Thus more proactive steps should be taken to reduce obesity in adults and children in India, which is facing twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity. In addition, restructuring of health policies with emphasis on control of diabetes is the urgent need of the hour in India.

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