There has been a quantum leap in
prevalence of diabetes in Chennai and Delhi, and if the figures apply for
other parts of the country, India would be home to the largest diabetic
population on earth. The Centre for
Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia (CARRS) study conducted by the
Madras Diabetic Research Foundation (MDRF) has shown that more than 24% of people in Chennai and Delhi, besides Karachi, are
diabetics. This is a tenfold increase
in their numbers since 1970, when the diabetic population stood at 2.3%. In Chennai, 38% of people above
the age of 40 are diabetics. "Especially the Chennai numbers are startling," said Dr V
Mohan of MDRF. "The study shows the prevalence
of diabetes in people above 20 years of age has gone up from 18.6% six years
ago to 24.7% now." In the past 40 years, diabetes has broken many
barriers. While earlier it was believed to be the rich man's disease, today it
is found in the poorest of people. Over time, diabetes has destroyed the
urban-rural divide as well, as sedentary lifestyle and a high fat diet has
become common among all Indians. "Everyone is at risk," said Dr Mohan. Adding to the trouble is
Indian's genetic predisposition to diabetes. On the brighter side, detection at
pre-diabetes stage and early intervention using a diet-exercise regime can
prevent if not delay diabetes, experts have found. Diabetes has demolished another
theory—that Indians living in the US are more prone to the disorder than those
living in India. The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in
America (MASALA) study done by the Madras Diabetic Research Foundation (MDRF)
compared the prevalence of diabetes among people in India and migrant Indians
living in San Francisco. "While it was believed that NRIs were more prone
to diabetes, the study showed that Indians living in India have surpassed that
too. The prevalence of diabetes in
Chennai was 38% in those above 40 years of age, compared to 24% among migrant
Indians in San Francisco," said Dr V Mohan of MDRF. The MASALA study also
showed that the prevalence of pre-diabetes was higher in San Francisco than in
India. "This is simply because our folks are changing from the
pre-diabetes phase into diabetes in a more rapid fashion than Indians living
abroad," said Dr Mohan. While there has been a debate over whether genetic
factors or environmental factors play a more important role in the high
prevalence of diabetes in India, Dr Mohan pointed out that unchecked
consumption of white rice was one of the major reasons for the alarming
increase in diabetes cases in India, followed by physical inactivity and
urbanization. "White rice intake and
diabetes rates go hand in hand. Studies show that the risk of diabetes
increases fourfold if the consumption of white rice increases from 200g to 400g
for every individual," said the doctor. He said that consuming brown rice
or rice rich in fibre would make a lot of difference in reducing the risk of
diabetes and obesity. "It is high time we dropped the rice rich diet and
included a lot of veggies in our meals.
Source - TOI
