New Delhi: India is called the ‘diabetes capital’ of the world for a reason.
The worrying truth once again came to the fore on World Diabetes Day, which is observed every year on November 14 to raise awareness on blood sugar and preventive measures.
According to a recent study, published in The Lancet, a quarter of the people who have diabetes globally are Indians.
Nearly 82.8 crore people around the world were estimated to be living with diabetes as per 2022 figures. India’s share is 21.2 crore, which amounts to just over 25% of the total.
Among other countries with a high number of diabetes cases are China (14.8 crore), the US (4.2 crore), Pakistan (3.6 crore) and Brazil (2.2 crore).
Researchers who form the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) said that the 82.8 crore figure is more than four times the number in 1990, with the largest increase in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Between 1990 and 2022, diabetes treatment slowed down in many of the LMICs, where cases of the disease increased considerably, with 44.5 crore people above 30 years having metabolic conditions globally.
Nearly one-third of the 44.5 crore adults (13.3 crore) with untreated diabetes were found to be living in India.
There is also undiagnosed diabetes, which is mostly linked with complications like diabetic retinopathy – retina is damaged by high levels of blood sugar, leading to potential loss of vision and blindness.
Researchers, including those from Chennai’s Sankara Nethralaya, conducted the SMART India Study in 10 Indian states and one union territory. The study covered 6,000 patients with diabetes aged 40 and above who had gradable retinal images.
The authors of the study said patients with diabetes must be screened for diabetic retinopathy.
“Given the disabling and potentially fatal consequences of diabetes, preventing diabetes through healthy diet and exercise is essential for better health throughout the world,” said Madras Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ranjit Mohan Anjana, author of the study.