On World Health Day (April 7), which is focusing on diabetes this year, citybased doctors speak on the importance of reaching out to the high-risk group, including youngsters to reduce the growing burden of the lifestyle disorder.
Shifting the spotlight on diabetes on the World Health Day speaks for the growing burden of the physical condition world over, says Dr TS Boochandran, Consultant Endocrinologist-Diabetologist, Apollo Hospitals. He adds that with morbidity and mortality rising, there is an urgent requirement to tackle it by concentrating on the high risk groups. He says, “Today, a huge proportion of deaths due to cardiac arrest and stroke are due to diabetes, those with obesity, women who have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) are in the high-risk category group. We also have a considerable percentage of people who are unaware that they have diabetes.”
Dr.Boochandran explains that stressing on delay of onset of diabetes should be the focus. “If a person is diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 25 years, he is more likely to go through a number of complications by he is 40. However, this can be delayed by 15-20 years through awareness and getting them on track,” he adds.
Catch them young
MV Hospital for Diabetes launched ‘Beat Diabetes’ Programme on Wednesday, ahead of World Health Day, for Tamil Nadu. The programme, in association with Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch and Indian College of Physicians, aims to educate college students on diet and exercise. Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Head and Chief Diabetologist , M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, says, “The programme will be held over a period of one year across Tamil Nadu. The faculty will be trained to talk to students across universities and the colleges affiliated to them. A follow-up will also be conducted to assess the impact.”
Increasing incidences and burden
While it is believed that the incidence of diabetes in TN is 9-10 per cent, there are pockets where the incidence is as high as 20 per cent, according to studies, points out Dr Boochandran.
He says, “This is a huge burden for a country like India and it affects those suffering from the disease, financially, as well. Unlike in the West where there are a number of health insurance schemes from government, here people have to spend a lot on diabetes care. With emerging medical advancements, there is effective medication available, but it is expensive,” he says. Dr Viswanathan says that with an estimated 50 million people diabetic in the country, the cost is as high as 15 lakh crore.
In Tamil Nadu, the prevalence rate of Diabetic retinopathy, which when left untreated, can lead to blindness, is 18.2 per cent, says Dr Suganeswari Ganesan, Senior Consultant, Vitreoretinal, Sankara Nethralaya. She adds that it is therefore important for those above 40 to check their sugar levels periodically.
“But it is also common for IT professionals to develop diabetes as young as 25, apart from children due to poor eating habits. They should adopt a healthy lifestyle; they must understand that diabetes can affect the kidneys, eyes, nerves and heart. Diabetes retinopathy is a treatable disease; it should be identified before it is too late,” says Dr Suganeswari.
Shifting the spotlight on diabetes on the World Health Day speaks for the growing burden of the physical condition world over, says Dr TS Boochandran, Consultant Endocrinologist-Diabetologist, Apollo Hospitals. He adds that with morbidity and mortality rising, there is an urgent requirement to tackle it by concentrating on the high risk groups. He says, “Today, a huge proportion of deaths due to cardiac arrest and stroke are due to diabetes, those with obesity, women who have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) are in the high-risk category group. We also have a considerable percentage of people who are unaware that they have diabetes.”
Dr.Boochandran explains that stressing on delay of onset of diabetes should be the focus. “If a person is diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 25 years, he is more likely to go through a number of complications by he is 40. However, this can be delayed by 15-20 years through awareness and getting them on track,” he adds.
Catch them young
MV Hospital for Diabetes launched ‘Beat Diabetes’ Programme on Wednesday, ahead of World Health Day, for Tamil Nadu. The programme, in association with Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch and Indian College of Physicians, aims to educate college students on diet and exercise. Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Head and Chief Diabetologist , M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, says, “The programme will be held over a period of one year across Tamil Nadu. The faculty will be trained to talk to students across universities and the colleges affiliated to them. A follow-up will also be conducted to assess the impact.”
Increasing incidences and burden
While it is believed that the incidence of diabetes in TN is 9-10 per cent, there are pockets where the incidence is as high as 20 per cent, according to studies, points out Dr Boochandran.
He says, “This is a huge burden for a country like India and it affects those suffering from the disease, financially, as well. Unlike in the West where there are a number of health insurance schemes from government, here people have to spend a lot on diabetes care. With emerging medical advancements, there is effective medication available, but it is expensive,” he says. Dr Viswanathan says that with an estimated 50 million people diabetic in the country, the cost is as high as 15 lakh crore.
In Tamil Nadu, the prevalence rate of Diabetic retinopathy, which when left untreated, can lead to blindness, is 18.2 per cent, says Dr Suganeswari Ganesan, Senior Consultant, Vitreoretinal, Sankara Nethralaya. She adds that it is therefore important for those above 40 to check their sugar levels periodically.
“But it is also common for IT professionals to develop diabetes as young as 25, apart from children due to poor eating habits. They should adopt a healthy lifestyle; they must understand that diabetes can affect the kidneys, eyes, nerves and heart. Diabetes retinopathy is a treatable disease; it should be identified before it is too late,” says Dr Suganeswari.