India is home to 77 million diabetics, second highest in the world

News: International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has launched the latest edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas to mark World Diabetes Day.

Facts:

Key Takeaways from IDF Diabetes Atlas

• Worldwide prevalence of diabetes estimated at 463 million adults in 20-79 age group.
• The number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise to 578 million by 2030 and to 700 million by 2045
• China has the highest number of adults with diabetes- 116 million adults in 20-79 age group
• India continues to be home to the second-largest number of adults with diabetes worldwide- 77 million in the 20-79 years age group.
• India was the largest contributor to diabetes mortality with more than 1 million estimated deaths attributable to diabetes and related complications, in the larger South East Asian region.
• Diabetes was responsible for an estimated $760 billion in health expenditure in 2019
• The worldwide prevalence of diabetes had reached 9.3 percent with more than half (50.1 per cent) of adults undiagnosed.
• Type 2 diabetes accounted for around 90% of all people with diabetes. The reasons for rise in the number of people with type 2 diabetes are urbanisation, an ageing population, decreasing levels of physical activity and increasing levels of overweight people and obesity.

Additional Information:

Diabetes and its Types

• Diabetes is a chronic disease caused when either pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body do not respond properly to insulin.
• It is a non-communicable disease-non-infectious or non-transmissible.
• There are three types of diabetes –
  • Type 1 when pancreas does not produce enough insulin
  • Type 2 -cells in the body do not respond to insulin properly, and
  • Gestational Diabetes – formed during pregnancy.

Indian Government Initiatives to Control Diabetes:

• In line with WHO’s Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020, India aims to reduce number of premature deaths by 25% and control NCDs by 2025
• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010: The objectives of the programme are:
  • Health promotion, Awareness generation and promotion of healthy lifestyle
  • Management of chronic Non-Communicable diseases, especially Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke through early diagnosis, treatment and follow up through setting up of NCD clinics
  • Provide support for diagnosis and cost effective treatment at various levels of health care
  • Capacity Building at various levels of health care for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment.

World Diabetes Day:

• World Diabetes Day is held on 14 November each year. It seeks to raise awareness on diabetes. The awareness campaign is led by International Diabetes Federation
• The theme for diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2019 is Family and Diabetes.