World Diabetes Day 2024: Addressing the Alarming Rate of Undiagnosed Diabetes in India

Diabetes is responsible for millions of deaths globally every year, a fact that most people are unaware of. On World Diabetes Day, let us address the issue of an alarming rate of undiagnosed diabetes in India.

Every year, World Diabetes Day is recognised on the 14th of November with an aim to spread awareness and asses global health when it comes to this chronic disease. In recent times, there has been a stark increase prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes globally but especially in India. The issue is indeed alarming but because of it commonality, its concern and care has reduced along with its awareness. Diabetes is responsible for a lot of deaths across the world, another issue that most people are unaware of.

As per the International Diabetes Federation, nearly 366 million people across the globe have diabetes, and nearly half of them remain undiagnosed. Knowledge and awareness about diabetes in India, especially in rural areas, is poor which is why the issue is more alarming in this country. Lack of awareness about diabetes is the root cause of the problem remaining undiagnosed. In fact, this sometimes also gives rise to serious health problems which could have been prevented otherwise.

On World Diabetes Day, 14th of November, Dr. Sumeet Arora, Sr. Consultant Endocrinology Artemis Hospitals elaborates on the level of diabetes awareness and the alarming rate of undiagnosed diabetes in India.

Diabetes Prevalence In India

India has witnessed a significant rise in diabetes cases over the last ten years. According to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research's ICMR-INDIAB, 62.4 million people in India had diabetes in 2011. By 2030, this number is expected to rise to 101.2 million. These alarming figures indicate that India needs initiatives that increase awareness about diabetes, its detection and prevention.

One of the main reasons behind the high rate of undiagnosed diabetes in India is the limited access to healthcare resources and education in rural areas. Many people are unaware of diabetes symptoms, risk factors, and the potential complications of untreated diabetes, like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and kidney failure. In addition to this, misconceptions about the disease also exist, like believing that condition only happens to the elderly, which further contributes in delaying the diagnosis.

To navigate this problem, the need of the hour is implementing strategies especially in rural areas, that are centered around large-scale diabetes awareness and education programs across India. These programs must focus on creating awareness about the importance of early detection, prevention, and management of diabetes. Effective initiatives like health camps, community-based screenings, and school programs offer great opportunities to educate the public and detect undiagnosed cases. Furthermore, joining hands with local healthcare providers and harnessing the potential of digital platforms can help in increasing the effectiveness of these initiatives.

In addition to this, educating people about lifestyle changes like healthy eating, regular exercise, and alcohol and smoking can help in diabetes prevention.

To sum up, increasing awareness about diabetes, encouraging overall health management and implementing strategies and initiatives that educate people about the issue and its prevention can eventually improve public health and reduce the detrimental impacts of this condition.