New Dehli, Tamsil Shahezad Khan - India is grappling with a rapidly escalating public health crisis as the number of individuals living with diabetes has soared to over 100 million, according to a comprehensive study published in The Lancet medical journal. A staggering 11.4% of the country's population is now affected by diabetes, with states like Goa, Puducherry, and Kerala reporting higher prevalence rates.
The situation is particularly concerning as diabetes is spreading quickly not just in urban areas but also in rural regions. Factors like changing lifestyles, increased affluence, and easy access to unhealthy fast food are fueling this alarming rise. The study warns that an explosion of diabetes cases could occur in states with currently lower prevalence, such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study underscores the urgent need for state-specific interventions to combat this growing epidemic. Over the past three decades, India has witnessed a staggering 150% increase in diabetes cases. Alarmingly, type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in individuals as young as 25 to 34 years old.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the crisis. Health experts have observed that a significant percentage of patients with no prior history of diabetes continued to exhibit high sugar levels months after recovering from COVID-19, raising fears of a post-pandemic tsunami of diabetes cases.
This alarming trend demands immediate action and increased awareness. Health authorities are being urged to implement comprehensive strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, improve access to healthcare services, and raise public awareness about diabetes and its risk factors.
India stands at a critical juncture, and the time to act is now. Failure to address this burgeoning diabetes epidemic could pose a severe threat to the health and well-being of millions of Indians.
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