The Significance Of “World Diabetes Day”

Diabetes is a chronic disease which turns threatening everyday and the rise of diabetic patients are getting broader particularly the country with dense population like India. The cause of diabetes is due to the insufficient secretion of insulin or the inability to secrete insulin. This might impair the principal body parts like kidney, heart, and nervous systems.

Based on the reports given by the ICMR-INDIAB in 2023, India is  secures the second place globally (10.1 crores) with the highest population of diabetic people after China and it is estimated that it might turn 124 million by 2045. It is due to genetic, improper lifestyle, and the diets.

Statistics of Type 1 & 2 Diabetic Population

Diabetes is diagnosed as type 1 and type 2 based on the symptoms exhibited in one’s body. When a body struggles to produce insulin naturally then it is termed as type 1 and this condition can occur at any age. The symptoms are frequent urination, extreme hunger, intense thirst, sudden weight loss and blurry vision. The type 2, often occurs for the people who are above 40 age. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare & ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Reasearch), revealed a stats which was done by International Diabetes Federation Atlas 2021, National Library of Medicine (US), and WHO.

• Type 1 – 22,94,000

Age : 0 to 19

In the metropolitan cities like Chennai and Delhi the average annual cases are estimated as 4.9/1,00,000. (particularly people below 20 years)

• Type 2 – 77 million (In which, 25 million are pre-diabetics)

Age : Above 18

“It is a ticking time bomb. If you have pre-diabetes, conversion to diabetes is very, very fast in our population; more than 60% of people with pre-diabetes end up converting to diabetes in the next five years”, said Dr.Anjana, the Managing Director at Dr.Mohan’s Diabetes  Specialities Centre to The Indian Express.

Prevent Onset of Diabetes

• Reduce calories with balanced diet.
• A 30 minutes of physical activities.
• Reduce 5 to 7% of body weight (from starting weight)
• Avoid tobacco use
• Regular screening
• Reduce the intake of processed food
• Salt intake is estimated as 2.5 to 6 grams per day. (Varies based on age)

These informations and recommendations are submitted by ICMR and WHO.

How to Manage Diabetes

Though an individual follows the above mentioned preventive measures from the onset of diabetes, the researchers claim there are possibility of occurrence of the either type of diabetes. Look into the managing methods of diabetes ICMR and National Health Mission of India,

• 55 to 60% of Carbohydrates intake.
• 15% calorie intake.
•  10 to 20% Protein intake.
• Physical Activity
• Insulin treatment – based on pre-meal & post-meal glucose level
• Nutritional diet (with reduced sugar, salt)

Today all the nations are fighting to bring down the intriguing global concern with the initiatives taken from the “World Diabetes Day”. The theme of 2024 World Diabetes Day in India is “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps”.