World Diabetes Day: Atlas Study Ranks India 2nd in Global Diabetes Estimates

The IDF Diabetes Atlas 2022 study ranks India as the second in the world after China in terms of the number of adults living with diabetes. Although the prevalence of diabetes in India was 9.6% in 2021, it is projected to go beyond 124 million footfall by 2045.

With diabetes becoming a major global health concern, it is estimated that 422 million people live with diabetes across the world, while 101 million in India, ranking second worldwide.

The IDF Diabetes Atlas 2022 study ranks India as the second in the world after China in terms of the number of adults living with diabetes. Although the prevalence of diabetes in India was 9.6% in 2021, it is projected to go beyond 124 million footfall by 2045.

Reportedly, more than half (53.1%) of people living with diabetes in India are undiagnosed. Also, there were about 6,182,373.9 live births affected by Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy (HIP) in 2021. Death rates stand at 647,831 due to diabetes in the year 2021.

World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14th each year. This year, the theme is 'Access to Diabetic Care', which aims to provide required care for diabetic patients to support and manage their complications.

Sharing his views, Praveen Kumar Kulkarni, senior consultant and internal medicine specialist, KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad, said "Diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. Diabetes may occur suddenly and can damage eyes, blood vessels, kidneys and nerves. It can also cause permanent vision loss by damaging the blood vessels in the eyes.”

He further said that though insulin was discovered over 100 years ago, its access to people who require it is scarce. When people are educated about this disease, they can avoid certain lifestyle patterns that might result in this disease.

A sedentary lifestyle and a diet that is high in sugar and carbohydrates are playing a role in pushing up the diabetes rate. According to an MDRF study, diabetes is more prevalent in urban than rural areas across states.

While Goa has the highest overall prevalence of diabetes (26.4%), Sikkim leads with the highest prevalence of prediabetes (31.3%). Moreover, India is home to one in every five children (0-19 years) with Type-1 diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body can’t produce or use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. If untreated, it can cause complications like glaucoma, kidney disease, hypertension, and nerve damage. Severe cases can result in heart attacks, strokes, or amputations. Regular check-ups and proper management can prevent these complications.

Two main types of diabetes:

Type-1: An auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system causes damage to the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients need daily insulin shots.

Type-2: Preventable disease. Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can greatly reduce the risk

Last month, the healthcare giant Dr Reddy launched the D2C e-commerce vertical ‘Celevida Wellness’ for diabetes care. This platform caters to the needs of diabetes patients and helps them manage and control the disease with the right nutrition and dietary intake.