Diabetes: One in 10 in Karnataka: Study
Bangalore, June. 11: The rate of diabetes has increased significantly in the country and Karnataka is in the red zone. The study revealed that the number of diabetes cases in the state is estimated to be 10.6 on a scale of 5.3 to 16.0. This means that a large number of people in the state are already suffering from diabetes
More people will suffer from diabetes in the next five years. Metro cities such as the state capital Bengaluru, which have a high population of diabetics, are at high risk, the researchers said. The study was conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It is funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study published in Lancet pointed out that there are currently 101 million diabetics in India. This is 11·4 per cent of the total population. Pre-diabetes is a major problem for the country. At least 136 million people, or 15.3 percent of the population, are diagnosed with diabetes.
In Karnataka, the ratio of diabetes to prediabetes has touched an alarming ratio of 1:1.2. Dr Ranjit Mohan Anjana, president of MDRF and first author of the study, said, “One in 10 people in the state has diabetes. This is alarming.”
A total of 1,13,043 individuals from across the country were examined in this research. Between October 18, 2008 and December 17, 2020, 79,506 people from rural areas and 33,537 from urban areas were tested. Dr. Anjana has informed that the gap between urban and rural areas has reduced in terms of diabetes.
“Only about 7% of people with previously diagnosed diabetes in India meet treatment targets for blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure. They are more dependent on government health facilities, especially in rural areas,” the report said.
Post-pandemic cases are because individuals’ symptom patterns have changed and many are physically debilitated. Hence experts advise that adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly and giving importance to mental fitness is the only way forward.
