Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has reached endemic proportions across the world, which occurs when pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or they are not utilized effectively by the body. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) stated that by 2011, approximately 366 million people around the world were affected by type 2 diabetes and the figure is expected to reach 552 million by 2030.
Closer to home, India has one of the largest population living with type 2 diabetes (61.3 million) and the same is expected to rise to 101.2 million by 2030, which indicates that in the next twenty years, one-fifth of the diabetic population will be in India. As such, India faces challenges in the prevention of the chronic disease, which has reached pandemic proportions, making Indians highly susceptible to the disease.
Challenging factors:
Diet: Indian diet is usually rich in saturated fats and carbohydrates, which contributes in making up for more calories and sugar than required by an individual on a daily basis. This is also the root cause of obesity, which is the highest risk factor of diabetes. Genetic Factors: IDF also argued that Indians are four times more likely to develop diabetes as compared to Europeans as they have high genetic and ethnic susceptibility to the disease. As such, Indians are more likely to develop diabetes with minor weight gain and they also tend to develop it at a younger age as opposed to western population. Lifestyle Modification: The younger generation is increasingly opting for sedentary lifestyle, combined with decreased physical activity and high fat diet – habits which have accompanied the process of urbanization and modernization – that have contributed in stimulating obesity prevalence, and consequently type 2 diabetes, in less than a generation.
Notwithstanding these challenges, taking precautions, starting with an early age, can help prevent the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes to a great extent. Fortunately, the solution to the endemic lies within the challenges itself. Following a balanced diet is the main key to type 2 diabetes prevention. Additionally, regular exercise (high and low intensity), can help maintain ideal body weight, which can further prevent obesity, making it a major factor in the prevention of the disease.
Even if the disease runs in the family, its probability of occurrence to the next generation can be prevented to a great degree if one takes these precautionary measures effectively.