There is an alarming global rise in diabetes cases, particularly in India, which now has the highest number of people with diabetes
Rise in the Cases of Diabetes
- Diabetes Cases Soar Worldwide: The global number of people with diabetes has skyrocketed in recent decades. From approximately 200 million in 1990, the number has quadrupled to over 800 million in 2022.
- Diabetes Among Adults: The global prevalence of diabetes in adults has also doubled, rising from 7 percent to 14 percent between 1990 and 2022, as reported in a study published in The Lancet on 13 November 2023.
- India Leads in Diabetes Cases: India now holds the highest number of people with diabetes globally, with 212 million individuals affected. This is significantly higher than China, which has 148 million people living with diabetes.
- Untreated Diabetes: Additionally, India leads the world in the number of people over the age of 30 with untreated diabetes, at 133 million, compared to China’s 78 million.
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Methodology Behind the Rising Numbers
- One key reason for the steep rise in diabetes cases globally is the updated methodology used for pooling and analysing diabetes data.
- The new approach includes people who are either on medication for diabetes, have a fasting plasma glucose level of 7.0 mmol/L or more, or have an HbA1c level of 6.5% or more.
- This broader definition of diabetes captures a larger population than earlier studies, which typically relied on a single biomarker, such as elevated fasting plasma glucose, to diagnose diabetes.
- While the exact numbers are still debated, the upward trend in diabetes prevalence is indisputable.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
- The fasting plasma glucose test is the simplest and fastest way to measure blood glucose and diagnose diabetes. Fasting means that you have had nothing to eat or drink (except water) for 8 to 12 hours before the test.
- A fasting blood sugar level from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is considered prediabetes.
- If it’s 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, you have diabetes.
HbA1C
- A haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows what your average blood sugar (glucose) level was over the past two to three months.
- If your A1c level is 6.5% or higher on two separate tests, you will likely be diagnosed with diabetes.
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Key Risk Factors Contributing to the Diabetes Epidemic
- Diet and Lifestyle:
- Unhealthy diets, rich in calories, carbohydrates, and saturated fats, combined with sedentary lifestyles, are major contributors to the rise in diabetes.
- These factors are controllable, and improving diet and exercise habits could reduce the global diabetes burden.
- Role of Tobacco:
- A 2023 WHO report found that smoking increases the risk of diabetes by 30-40% compared to non-smokers.
- Nicotine impairs insulin production, induces insulin resistance, and disrupts glucose regulation, exacerbating diabetes risk.
- Avoiding tobacco not only reduces diabetes risk but also lowers the chances of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in diabetic individuals.
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Gestational diabetes
- Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy.
- Managing gestational diabetes is crucial, not only for the health of the mother during pregnancy but also in preventing long-term health issues.
- Women with gestational diabetes and their children are at higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.
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India’s Challenge: Scaling Up Diabetes Diagnosis
- With 133 million people in India still undiagnosed, the country faces an urgent need to scale up efforts in diabetes diagnosis.
- This is particularly critical as India strives to meet the WHO’s 2030 target for diabetes care, which calls for 80 percent of people with diabetes to be diagnosed and 80 percent of diagnosed individuals to have good control of their blood sugar levels.
Conclusion
The global rise in diabetes, with India at the forefront, is driven by unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and tobacco use. While progress has been made in diabetes diagnosis, urgent action is needed in India to scale up diagnosis and treatment, reduce undiagnosed cases, and meet global health targets to alleviate the long-term societal burden.
| Mains Practice
Q. “India is considered the diabetes capital of the world.” Discuss the factors contributing to the rising prevalence of diabetes in India and suggest measures to tackle the burden of this disease. (15 M, 250 words) |
November 18, 2024
