JOIN USMarking its presence all across the globe in different fields like technology, education and sports, India will be soon leading the world for having the highest number of diabetic patients.
Fast catching up with China, India has 63 million diabetic patients which has 92.3 million patients. The figures revealed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Atlas clearly indicate that more and more Indians are vulnerable to the disease.
What has made Indians more prone to diabetes is their sedentary lifestyles and high intake of carbohydrate rich food. Dr Ashok Kumar, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital says, “There are five major factors for Indians being more susceptible to Diabetes Mellitus. It includes lifestyle, lack of exercise, chronic intake of high carbohydrate diet, abnormal cholesterol levels and hypothyroidism which lowers metabolic activity and leads to early diabetes.”
He says, “A major proportion of population suffering from diabetes are in the age group of 50-70. While those with having mature onset of diabetes are in 30-40 age group. Their is number is slightly less. The problem is grim in metropolitan cities where people are so busy in their lives that they hardly get time to exercise. Stress, anxiety and unhealthy food habits are also key reasons for the spurt in the number of diabetics.”
The rising number of diabetic patients has set alarm bells ringing as young kids are also increasingly at risk. Lack of physical activity coupled with overeating and rising intake of high-calorie food is leading to massive growth of diabetes in young kids, reveals a just-concluded survey undertaken by Assocham in wake of World Diabetes Day on November 14.
Calling it as a high time when diabetes is leading to other ailments like neuropathy, renal failure, gastro-intestinal problem, retinopathy and heart-attack, doctors suggests taking preventive measures before its treatment become a burden.
“Awareness about diabetes should be widely spread. Schools should conduct workshops to make students aware about the disease. Consumption of high cholesterol food should be minimal. Alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided. Regular heath check up is a must because if diabetes remains undiagnosed it can lead to severe complications,” says Dr Ashok.