New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Diabetes is a national issue impacting millions, and a collaborative effort is a must to keep the rising cases in check, said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on the occasion of World Diabetes Day on Thursday.
Highlighting this year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” at an event held in the national capital, Singh called for a united approach to ensure that every individual has access to affordable, high-quality diabetes care.
Diabetes has become a global concern with a whopping 828 million people suffering from the condition worldwide. With 212 million diabetics living in 2022, India has the highest number in the world, according to the latest study published in the journal Lancet.
Beyond diabetes treatment, Singh stressed the need to address the “systemic gap” — in healthcare accessibility, awareness, and treatment adherence. The Minister noted that nearly half of those diagnosed remain unaware of their condition or struggle to maintain regular treatment due to financial or informational barriers.
He called for a new two-tiered collaboration — “PPP plus PPP or public-private partnership domestically, collaborating with public-private partnerships internationally”, to tackle diabetes.
The Minister underscored that diabetes care and prevention are far too significant to be left solely to medical professionals. Instead, they demand a unified national response from healthcare providers, policymakers, families, and communities.
“Diabetes is a national issue that impacts millions, and through combined efforts, we can bridge the gaps in awareness, care, and treatment accessibility,” he remarked.
According to health experts, without lifestyle change, which includes a healthy diet and physical activity, defeating diabetes is impossible.
“When it comes to defeating diabetes, the most important step is to educate the public about the symptoms. We also need to review and improve the lifestyle of the population. As Indians, our diet is carbs-heavy. Unless we change our lifestyle, it is not possible for us to bring about a change in the diabetes situation,” Dr. Suryadevara Varun, Consultant, Dept. of Endocrinology, Apollo Hospitals, told IANS.
The experts blamed the rise in diabetes cases on a significant surge in carbohydrate-rich processed foods. These diets often include excessive sugars, and unhealthy fats, and are high in calories, contributing to rapid weight gain and insulin resistance — two significant factors in diabetes development.
In addition, India has also seen a shift towards desk-bound jobs, coupled with increased screen time, resulting in limited physical activity. Without sufficient exercise, the body’s ability to regulate insulin declines, raising the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
“Regular physical activity and dietary modification will help in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Reducing weight by 5 per cent helps a lot in prevention as well as treatment of diabetes” Dr. Rajesh Khadgawat, Professor, Department of Endocrinology, AIIMS, told IANS.
Dr Sonali Kagne, Consultant, Department of Endocrinology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, told IANS that individuals with family history, or history of autoimmune diseases are at an increased risk. Environmental exposure to certain toxins also plays a role.
The experts noted that the mechanism is more or less similar in both adult onset and paediatric onset of diabetes.
–IANS
rvt/
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
