One in 10 Bengalureans diabetic: study

 One in 10 people in Bengaluru is diabetic, according to a study cited in a reputed international medical journal.

The corresponding number for Karnataka is one in 12. The findings were published in Lancet, the largest peer-reviewed general medicine journal published from the US.

Karnataka is one of four Indian states with a high prevalence of diabetes. It comes fourth with a diabetes prevalence of 7.7 %, which accounts for about 47 lakh people.

The other states with high prevalence are Punjab with 10%, Tripura with 9.4%, and Andhra Pradesh with 8.4%.

“The numbers are bound to go up with the kind of lifestyle here. Bengaluru alone has a population of about 12 lakh people with diabetes.” said Dr R M Anjana, vice president, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, who co-authored the Lancet report.

Pre-diabetics (people who turn diabetic unless immediate preventive measures are taken) in Karnataka constitute 11.7% of the population, or about 71.5 lakh people, according to the study.

In the last 20 years, doctors say, diabetes has migrated from the elderly population (60-plus years) to younger people between 25 and 30.

Experts say fast food, environmental change and stress create an environment that tends to cause obesity.

“People do not walk or run anymore. This pushes them to early diabetes. The key here is prevent weight gain,” said Dr Anjana.

Low-carb diets are effective in preventing diabetes, Dr Paramesh Shamanna said.