Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (UNI) Amid rising cases of diabetes, over 5 crore Indians remain undiagnosed, prompting urgent calls for regular screening and lifestyle changes.
India faces an alarming diabetes prevalence of 11.4 per cent, with over 10 crore people currently living with the condition, Dr Naresh Purohit, Advisor for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, said.
Quoting his recent scientific report published in the Australian Journal of Public Health, acclaimed physician pointed out that God's own country, 'Kerala', is witnessing a dramatic demographic shift in the surge of Type 2 diabetes in children.
"Once primarily associated with adults over 40, this disease is now increasingly affecting children as young as 10. It is now a public health crisis," he said.
"This condition poses a major risk to young lives and will have severe consequences unless parents take immediate action to improve their children’s lifestyles, he cautioned.
"Diabetes results from the body's impaired ability to metabolise carbohydrates due to insulin insufficiency or resistance, causing elevated blood sugar levels and serious complications like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and neuropathy. While type 2 diabetes accounts for over 90 per cent of cases, other forms such as type 1 and gestational diabetes also pose risks, he explained.
He emphasised that symptoms often remain vague, making early screening crucial to prevent disease progression. There is an urgent need for increased awareness and routine blood sugar testing, especially among high-risk groups, he added.
He recommended lifestyle interventions including regular moderate exercise, dietary changes focusing on higher protein and fibre intake, weight reduction, proper sleep, stress management, and avoiding smoking.
For those diagnosed with diabetes, regular medical follow-up and controlling HbA1c levels below 7 per cent are vital to reduce complications. With India’s national average HbA1c at 9.1 per cent, he called for intensified efforts to measure, monitor, and manage diabetes effectively to curb this growing health crisis.
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