Higher Incidents Of Diabetes In Rich States

Y.S. Rana

The writer is a Hamirpur based Himachali settled in Chandigarh

The ICMR study released recently reveals that diabetes prevalence has a link with gross domestic product (GDP). A state with higher per capita GDP seemed to have higher prevalence of diabetes. Chandigarh which had the highest GDP also had the highest prevalence of diabetes of 13.6% compared to Bihar (4.3%). It varies from 4.3% in Bihar to 10% in Punjab, also higher in urban areas with 11.2% than in rural areas with 5.2%. Chandigarh has 13.6% prevalence of diabetes patients and 14.6% pre-diabetes. Punjab has the maximum number of obese and hypertension on account of its prosperity and food habits. According to figures, women every where except Bihar and Meghalaya are more overweight than men.

According to ICMR-INDIAB study states that India is in a state of epidemic amongst the urban poor in rich cities and has been increasing in the states with higher per capita (GDP). In urban areas of some of more affluent states (Chandigarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) diabetes prevalence was found higher in people with lower socio-economic status (SES). The spread of diabetes to economically disadvantaged sections of society is a matter of great concern and warranted urgent preventive measures. The larger difference in diabetes prevalence has been observed between states in India, which has been assessed in relation to socio-economic status (SES) of the individuals and the per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) of each state. The higher prevalence of diabetes in low SES groups in urban areas of the more economically developed states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu is a matter of great concern and demands urgent preventive measures by the government.

The overall prevalence of diabetes in 15 states of India surveyed is 7.3%, while 10.3% population is in pre-diabetic stage. However, the status in the north-eastern region varies from 6.0% in Mizoram to 14.7% in Tripura. The independent risk factors for diabetes in both urban and rural areas could be age, obesity, hypertension and family history.

“During our latest research, we have found that the pre-diabetes level is higher than diabetes in India, except in Chandigarh where the transition has already happened. States where diabetes prevalence is very high, like Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the pre-diabetes prevalence is very low,” said Dr R M Anjana, lead author of the study and Vice-President of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF).

Sample Population Aged Above 20 Years

The study findings are based on a sample population of 57,117 individuals aged above 20 years, from eight mainland states, six north-eastern states and one union territory. These states were sampled in a phased manner starting with Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra in the 1st phase; Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Punjab in the 2nd phase; and the north-eastern phase included Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya between 2010 and 2015. Capillary oral glucose tolerance tests were used to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes in accordance with the WHO criteria.

No Longer Rich Man’s Disease

“Till now, there used to be a norm that diabetes is a rich man’s disease, which after this research turned out to be vice-versa in today’s time. As the GDP of a state increases, the diabetes rate will go up. However, poor people in richer states have been reported with the more prevalence of diabetes. One of the reasons why richer people have low diabetic prevalence is their lifestyle include healthy pattern of eating and exercise, while people with low SES have been exposed to aerated beverages and fatty junk food available cheap in the market and not exercising enough,” said Dr V Mohan, President of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. The institute was the national coordinator for the research study.

Shifting Base To Younger In Himachal

Though Himachal Pradesh has less prevalence of diabetes (6.3%) compared to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, yet the disturbing fact about Himachal Pradesh is the trend of shift of diabetes base to younger age and women as well, said an official of the health department. Diabetes cases were found in the highest villages of the world—Hikkim and Komik—in Lahaul and Spiti. The state has been given Rs 2.63 crore in 2015-16 under National Programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes and heart diseases.

Himachal-o-Meter

The state’s ups and downs this week

Himachal Close To Achieving MNREGA Targets

Shimla: Himachal is close to achieving MNREGA work targets it had set for itself. The government has set a target of Rs. 500 crore works under MNREGA for this financial year. Works of more than Rs. 300 crore have already been done with many still running. It is said that headquarters have reviewed the situation of MNREGA works on the basis of field report and the government was satisfied of the pace of MNREGA works. The state has consumed entire amount it got from Union Government in the form of material component. Directorate of panchayati raj department has received report from all the districts that reveals that much payment is still pending. Based on these reports, the state panchayati raj department has submitted the demand to Union Government to release the pending payment of material component under MNREGA. It is expected that union government will soon release the payment to complete the MNREGA works running at brisk pace in Himachal.  Panchayati raj department has asked for essentiality certificate from field staff on the basis of which union government releases funds.

29 Persons Killed In Rampur Bus Accident

Rampur Bushahr:  At least 29 people were killed and eight others injured after a bus fell into a deep gorge near Rampur in Shimla. The bus carrying 37 passengers was on it way from Reckong Peo area in Kinnaur to Nauni in Solan via Rampur. However the bus lost control near Khaneri in Rampur and fell into a deep gorge. According to reports, 28 persons died on spot while one succumbed to injuries at hospital. The   deceased included 18 men, nine women and a child. Both driver and conductor of the bus have survived with injuries. The injured persons were shifted to Civil Hospital, Khaneri while seriously injured shifted to the IGMC, Shimla. The government has announced immediate relief of Rs 10,000 that has been given to the next of kin of the deceased.

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