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India
The Diabetes Capital of the World

India accounts for nearly 69 million people living with diabetes according to a report published by the International Diabetes Federation(IDF). According to latest IDF estimate, worldwide 382 million people are living with diabetes. November 14 is observed as the World Diabetes Day. The North Eastern Diabetes Society (NEDS), a non-profit organization of prominent diabetologists and endocrinologists of North-east India celebrated this day in Guwahati in a grand way. This day was chosen as it is the birthday of Fedrick Banting, a medical scientist who co-discovered Insulin and was the first person to use it on humans.

Diabetes amongst Indians is five times the rate of white population. Sedentary lifestyle alongwith lack of exercise and high intake of high calorie value food and salt leads to Central Obesity (apple shape of body) and insulin resistance and is the main reason for increase in diabetes in Indians. Diabetes growth has exceeded more than fifty percent from what it was in the year 1995.According to World Health Organization (WHO) diabetes will become the seventh leading cause of death by the year 2030 and more than fifty percent rise may be seen in the next 20 years.

What is Diabetes? Diabetes describes a group of long-term metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.

NEDS, in a press release issued to the media, said that one person dies of diabetes every 6 seconds or 6 in one minute and one in twenty deaths in the world is due to diabetes. It is the number one cause of kidney failure in the world. It is responsible for five million blindness cases in adults and one million limb amputations. Fifty percent of the amputations occur in people who have diabetes. It is an important cause of heart disease, stroke and cataract. Keeping these facts in mind it is clear that the future of human race is in jeopardy. IDF has adopted the task to protect our future. Most of the diabetes cases can be prevented through dietary modifications, weight loss and physical activities. Ninety percent diabetic patients can be treated by using inexpensive life style changes. Regular exercise is a weapon against diabetes. Activities like jogging, running, cycling, swimming etc, at least five days a week, helps cure diabetes. In India a low income group diabetic patient spends about 25 percent of his family income on diabetes care.

NEDS has taken up two ambitious projects (1) NEDS school health obesity prevention programme and (2) Peripheral doctors enlighten on diabetes programme. Everybody has a role to play and can join hands to combat this menace. Each and every individual in the society can be a role model and contribute to the awareness of diabetes. NGOs, self-help groups, media and government agencies may take the challenge in the right earnest to create the necessary awareness about diabetes.

NEDS chalked out a number of programmes on the World Diabetes Day with rally, drawing competition, diabetes detection and awareness meet, poster competition etc. It also has plans to provide free treatment to some of the diabetes patients.

HOW TO IDENTIFY DIABETES? Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience : frequent urination (Polyuria), increasing thirst (Polydipsia) and increased hunger (Polyphagia)

What Causes Diabetes? The chief leading causes identified by experts include : Sedentary lifestyle Increased comsumption of junk food Increase in stress levels Hereditary, if no proper diet and exercise

 

There are three types of Diabete Type 1 Diabetes The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 Diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years. Patients with Type 1 Diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood glucose-levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special regime of exercise and diet. Type 2 Diabetes The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (Insulin resistance). Some people may be able to control their Type 2 Diabetes by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise and monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, Type 2 Diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the patient will probably end up taking insulin, usually in tablet form Gestational Diabetes This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. The majority of gestational diabetes patients can control their diabetes with exercise and diet. Between 10% to 20% of them will need to take some kind of blood-glucose-controlling medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes can raise the risk of complication during childbirth. The baby may be bigger than he/she should be. Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of type 2 Source : William’s Textbook of Endoxrinology

Daya Nath Singh