India could see a 73 percent rise in diabetes cases by 2050, a recent research shows, and it is putting the country’s healthcare burden at risk. India is already home to one of the world's largest populations of people living with diabetes and there are millions more people with the disease; if current lifestyle and health trends continue, it could be millions more with millions of cases. Health experts say the rise in the number of cases will be a huge strain on hospitals, healthcare systems and families and preventive medicine needs to proceed with early intervention.
Researchers attribute the alarming increase to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, obesity, population ageing, urbanization, and genetic predisposition. Increasing numbers of ultra-processed foods, sugary beverages and fast food, and reduced physical activity due to desk jobs and increased screen time have increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by a large margin. These lifestyle changes are affecting not only older people but younger people too; diabetes and prediabetes are now diagnosed at earlier ages than ever before.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the regulation of blood sugar. Untreated or poorly managed, it could lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, vision loss and foot problems. Prevention of type 2 diabetes is a matter of lifestyle, and the doctor told us that if a person is healthy and eats healthy food and drinks that are mixed with fruits, vegetables and whole grains and lean protein, and drinks and processed foods are kept to a minimum, the likelihood of developing the disease is very low.
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Early diagnosis is one of the best ways to fight diabetes and prevent complications,” said health professionals. High blood sugar levels can be detected at regular health check-ups and people can change their lifestyle to get treatment if necessary. Health promotion campaigns, preventive healthcare and community-based wellness programs will be instrumental in reducing diabetes’s future burden. Workforces, schools and communities can also encourage healthier habits by promoting physical activity and healthy eating; and health screenings have often been promoted for a good while as well.
As India grows more urban and lifestyle-related diseases are more common, diabetes is a global public health crisis that needs to be addressed as a national public health priority. Saving lives, investing in nutrition education, promoting active living and providing affordable medical services will help prevent a rise in diabetes cases. Although the study points to a near future scenario, doctors say that any relatively small lifestyle change that you make can still have a significant impact on reducing diabetes risk and overall health. On the basis of this awareness and early diagnosis and prevention plan, India can stop this silent epidemic.
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