I am sure you have heard India is becoming the diabetes capital of the world. We have all seen this prevailing news over some point of time. But why and how are we achieving that status? The number of diabetic cases in India is expected to reach 69.9 million by 2025, according to a collaborative survey done by the ICMR and NCDIR. Now for the most intriguing portion of the survey: did you realise that the vast majority of them are still undiagnosed? Let us thoroughly investigate the core cause of our country’s impending disaster.
Rise of diabetes in India
India is the world’s diabetes capital, and diabetes, also known as sugar, is referred to as ‘the sugar sickness’ in most households. Diabetes is predominantly a lifestyle disease that has expanded dramatically across all age categories in India, with prevalence exceeding 10% among the younger population.
The situation in cities is worse than in rural areas, where the disease prevalence is nearly twice across all socioeconomic categories. The present growth in diabetes, particularly among the younger population, is a major source of concern for public health.
The recent exponential rise of diabetes in India can be traced primarily to lifestyle changes. Rapid changes in food choices, physical inactivity, and increased body weight, particularly belly fat buildup, are some of the key causes of increased prevalence.
Breakdown The Type of Sugar Disease
The majority of diabetes types lack a known cause. In every circumstance, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This results from the pancreas’s limited ability to produce insulin. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can result from a combination of inherited and environmental factors. What exactly these factors are remains unknown.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is defined by insufficient insulin production which requires daily an injection to regulate insulin development. In a survey of 2017 it was reported that approximately 9 million individuals suffer from type 1 diabetes with the majority of them living in developed countries.
Type 2 diabetes
Unlike Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes influences how a patient’s body uses glucose generated for energy. It prevents the body from adequately utilising insulin, which can result in excessive blood sugar levels if not managed.
Type 2 diabetes can cause major harm to the body, particularly the nerves and blood vessels, over time. Being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and heredity are all risk factors for having type 2 diabetes.
Early detection is critical for avoiding the severe complications of type 2 diabetes. Regular check-ups and blood tests with a healthcare provider are the best method to diagnose diabetes early.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms can be minor. It may take several years for them to be discovered. The symptoms are often less severe than those of type 1 diabetes. As a result, the disease may be discovered years later, when complications have developed.
Gestational diabetes
Hyperglycemia during pregnancy occurs when blood glucose levels are above normal but below those that are indicative of diabetes.
Causes Of Diabetes
To understand diabetes and its causes, it is extremely essential to break down how the body functions and uses glucose.
How insulin works
Insulin is a hormone produced by a gland located below and beneath the stomach (the pancreas).
- Insulin is released into the bloodstream via the pancreas.
- Insulin circulates, allowing sugar to enter cells.
- Insulin regulates the blood sugar level.
- As blood sugar levels fall, so does insulin release from the pancreas.
The functioning of glucose
Glucose provides energy to each individual cell in our body including our muscles and other tissues.
- Glucose is obtained mostly from two sources: food and the liver.
- Sugar enters the bloodstream and flows in the cells with the help of insulin.
- The liver both stores and produces glucose.
When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, your liver converts stored glycogen into glucose. This maintains your glucose level within a normal range.
How To Delay Getting Type 2 Diabetes?
If you are at risk of getting diabetes, you may be able to avoid or postpone its onset. The majority of what you must do is adopt a healthy lifestyle. You will gain additional health benefits if you make these changes. You may minimise your risk of getting other illnesses, as well as feel better and have more energy. The changes are as follows.
Losing weight and keeping it off. Diabetes prevention begins with weight management. By decreasing 5 to 10% of your present weight, you may be able to avoid or delay diabetes. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should aim to shed 10 to 20 pounds. And once you’ve lost the weight, it’s critical that you don’t regain it.
Following a healthy eating plan. It is critical to limit the number of calories you consume each day in order to lose weight and keep it off. To do this, your diet should include fewer amounts as well as less fat and sugar. You should also consume a variety of foods from each food group, such as vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Limiting red meat and avoiding processed foods are also good ideas.
Get regular exercise. Exercise provides numerous health benefits, including weight loss and blood sugar control. Both of these reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. 5 days a week, try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity. If you haven’t been active, consult with your doctor to determine which types of exercise are best for you.
Don’t smoke. Tobacco usage can increase the resistance of insulin, which inturn can lead you on the path of type 2 diabetes. If you are a smoker, try to put an effort to stop.
Consult your doctor to see if there is anything else you can do to delay or avoid type 2 diabetes. If you are at high risk, your doctor may advise you to take one of several types of diabetic medications. We hope the information we shared with you will help you to understand the problem better and help you prevent/ delay the disease. If you want more information on such topics visit our website at RajaRajeshwari Medical College and Hospital today.