The insulin is like a key that opens the cells so that they consume the glucose in the blood. In a diabetic condition the insulin is produced less or it does not open the cells to accept the glucose. Diabetes is a slow killer. Diabetics have to maintain a careful balance between insulin injections, diet and regular exercise to maintain a normal lifestyle. These are things that people need to do even before they become a diabetic but diabetes enforces it on them. They also need a great deal of monitoring and need to periodically take food. Diabetes also makes life dependent on insulin injections. They also experience slow healing of wounds and slowed down circulation. It may also cause loss of eye sight and fatigue.
Did you know India is considered the diabetic capital of the world? It is estimated that up to three million people die from the disease every year, and over a quarter of a billion people are affected by diabetes. It is interesting to note that even though Indians as a community are not obese when compared to the western world, they have the maximum number of people with diabetes and cardio-vascular problems. The Traditional Indian food was one of the most balanced diets, with right amount of carbohydrates (rice, Indian bread), proteins (lentils) and vegetables. Today in this fast-forward world Indians do not have the time to prepare a traditional Indian meal every day. The fast growing economy has families under enormous emotional and time pressure and has made them resort to unhealthy food habits, leading to unhealthy bodies. The urban Indians lack any sort of proper exercise and add to bad eating habit and we have an explosive mixture.
Indians are also genetically flawed that makes them more prone to diabetes. They are genetically prone to get diabetes than any other ethnic group in the world. Consider this, Dr. P.V. Rao, a renowned diabetic researcher tested Indians immigrants some of whom had migrated centuries ago, from all over the world. Indians who were born in countries like Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius and many others were also highly prone to diabetes than the local demographic. Another interesting fact is Indian women living abroad are more likely to have diabetes than the ones in India. Further research is being done to find out the exact cause for this condition. In a test done in 2008, 14% of Urban Indians had diabetes and that is the largest any where in the world. Indian women will need to be extremely cautious and need to take proper measures to make sure they do not have Gestational diabetes and if they do take proper care to control this condition through proper diet and exercise or in extreme cases through medication.The reason attributed to this is the changes in Indian diet. The traditional Indian diet was a well balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and other nutrients. But due the urbanization and life style changes in India the diet had been completely replaced by a much more easier to cook or eat out attitude. Indians eat less, weigh less hence this is very puzzling condition.
14 percent of the urban Indian population is estimated to have diabetes. Delhi has a population of 1.2 crore (12 million), and an estimated 15 percent of them have diabetes. In rural areas, where the health care system is almost inexistent, four to five percent of the population is said to have diabetes. WHO has warned that diabetes can take a huge toll on the Indian economy. Indian with a population of more than a billion cannot afford to ignore this huge epidemic. More awareness needs to be created about diabetes and harms it can do.