1 in 10 diabetic in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The prevalence of diabetes, a non-communicable disease (NCD), has been steadily increasing in the past few decades, especially in Tamil Nadu (10.4 per cent prevalence), as seen in INDIAB study of Indian Council of Medical Research. (ICMR).

With the global rise in diabetes becoming a serious issue, WHO has chosen diabetes to be a priority area of global public health concern. “Among the 15 states that ICMR focused on in its INDIAB study, Tamil Nadu had the highest number of diabetics, following Chandigarh (UT),” said R.M. Anjana, director - Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, who was part of the survey.

“Every one in 10 persons is diabetic in Tamil Nadu,” said Boochandran. T.S., endocrinologist, Apollo Hospitals. Dr Mohan’ s study conducted in some pockets of Chennai saw many were still unaware about the disease or unable to grasp the seriousness that is related to it.

“Tamil Nadu is well ahead of other states in terms of awareness,” said a senior health official. However, despite increasing awareness of diabetes and its life-altering complications, very few people undergo regular screening tests proactively to prevent the disease.

A recent study revealed that people with Type-I Diabetes, who intensively control their blood glucose soon after diagnosis, are likely to live longer than those who do not. However, care is not taken to control one’s blood glucose.
“Adults these days do not believe in exercising. They never realise the seriousness of the disease,” said a diabetologist, M. Verghese.

India, which is reported to have the second highest number of diabetic individuals in the world, has in recent years seen a sharp increase in its numbers - 19 million in 1995 to 66.8 million in 2015 - according to International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes is fast gaining an epidemic status in India. According to Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia, taxing sugary beverages and re-investing the revenue in health promotion activities is an evidence-based intervention that makes real change.

Public health agencies worldwide are concerned as diabetes is linked to ailments ranging from strokes to cardiovascular disease. Though mortality due to diabetes is relatively less as compared to cancer and cardiac disorders, WHO fears that the disease could become the world’s seventh largest killer by 2030. “More than 50 per cent of those who die with various ailments have diabetes,” said  Boochandran.