India's Diabetes Epidemic
Rising Diabetes Cases in India: A Multifactorial Challenge
India is currently grappling with a significant diabetes epidemic, with approximately 57% of cases remaining undiagnosed [1]. Researchers predict that by 2045, the number of people living with diabetes in India will reach 134 million [2].
The high prevalence of diabetes in urban areas is primarily driven by several interrelated factors. These include changes in diet, physical inactivity, psychological stress, and rapid urbanization-related lifestyle transitions.
Dietary Factors
Urban populations consume more junk food containing refined Maida (highly refined flour), industrial sugars, starches, low fiber, and unhealthy oils [1]. This contributes to obesity and insulin resistance, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Reduced physical activity due to urban jobs and lifestyles also increases obesity and metabolic dysfunction, raising diabetes risk [1, 3].
Stress and Mental Health
Emotional stress, depression, anxiety, prolonged sorrow, and job-related stress, including overtime and night shifts, have been linked to the development of diabetes by affecting biochemical processes and glucose metabolism [1, 3].
Urbanization and Migration
Rural-to-urban migration introduces rapid lifestyle changes, such as increased consumption of high-calorie processed foods and reduced physical activity, contributing to diabetes and related metabolic conditions [2].
Other Contributing Factors
Sleep disturbances, gut dysfunction, and erratic eating patterns further aggravate insulin resistance and diabetes risk in urban populations [1].
In addition to these factors, environmental factors related to climate change and air pollution, more prevalent in urban settings, may also influence diabetes incidence and complicate its management [4].
In rural areas, general awareness of diabetes is low, and people tend to view diabetes as a "new" condition. However, with increasing urbanization, people are adopting more sedentary lifestyles and consuming more calorie-dense sugary foods and drinks, increasing their risk of developing diabetes.
People of South Asian ancestry respond differently to sugary and fatty foods than people of European ancestry. As processed Western foods become more popular in India, so does the risk of diabetes.
Social stress, such as saving for a dowry, has been linked to diabetes in middle-to-high-earning economic groups in India, but this belief is less common among lower income groups.
When the body cannot efficiently clear glucose, it increases metabolic load and insulin resistance, putting a person at risk of developing diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is treated with medication and insulin. Some treatments come in tablet form, and a person may take a combination of different medications to keep their blood sugar levels stable.
In India, more than half of the population is at risk of developing diabetes at some point in their lives. It is crucial to raise awareness about the disease, promote healthy lifestyle choices, and provide accessible healthcare services to combat this growing epidemic.
[1] World Health Organization. (2016). Global Report on Diabetes. [2] International Diabetes Federation. (2019). IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th Edition. [3] Mathur, P., & Mathur, A. (2019). Urban Diabetes in India: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 33(6), 690-695. [4] World Health Organization. (2018). Climate Change and Health.
- Self-care practices such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and managing stress levels can help mitigate the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes in urban populations.
- The development of mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and prolonged stress may increase the risk of type-2 diabetes through its impact on biochemical processes and glucose metabolism.
- Research suggests that South Asian ancestry may affect how the body responds to sugary and fatty foods, potentially increasing the risk of type-2 diabetes in India, as the popularity of processed Western foods rises.
- Improving general awareness of diabetes, promoting health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and mental health, as well as providing better access to medical care, can help combat the diabetes epidemic in India.
- Proper nutrition, including a diet low in refined flours, sugars, and unhealthy oils, and rich in fibers, is essential for maintaining good health and reducing the risk of developing diabetes.
