62 million people in India have diabetes: ICMR study

Youngistan more at risk as study finds diabetes prevalent in 20-25 age group

Chennai:

There are 62 million diabetes cases across the country in one year and the prevalence of diabetes in the most productive age group of 20-25 is on the rise, according to a study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research and Indian Diabetes.

Interestingly, Diabetes Atlas in 2009 has estimated that India has 50 million people with diabetes. But this study, which is more authentic than the previous ones as it covers rural and urban population and is largest in the world, has found that there has been 12 million more diabetes cases when compared to previous study last year.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Dr V Mohan, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and a principal investigator of the study, and Dr V Anjana, who is also a co-principal investigator, said the first phase of the results of the study after extrapolating the data of 16,000 samples collected in three states and a union territory has also found that there has been a prevalence of diabetes among the younger population in the age group of 20-25.

Interestingly, this national study is expected to have a sample size of 1.26 lakh once the third phase of the study is over which consists of 28 states and two union territories. “We are selecting 4,000 samples from each state,” said Dr Mohan.

The phase I of the study, which began last year, has now been completed and this included Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and union territory of Chandigarh. The study through extrapolation of data also highlighted that there are 77.2 million people who are pre-diabetic. This is worrisome as this implies a huge population at risk of developing diabetes in near future.

The study states that in 2011, Tamil Nadu has 4.8 million people with diabetes and 3.9 million with prediabetes while Maharashtra has six million with diabetes and 9.2 million with pre-diabetes. Interestingly, the prevalence of diabetes is low in Jharkhand. It has only 0.96 million with diabetes and 1.5 million with pre diabtes. In Chandigarh the figures were 0.12 million with diabetes and 0.13 million with pre-diabetes.

Dr Mohan said the study when completed would provide accurate data about diabetes. “To date there have been no nationwide study on diabetes. The study used height, weight, body mass index and waist circumference besides blood pressure, screening of diabetes and pre-diabetes in blood glucose and fasting venous sample for measurement of lipids.

The study is expected to be completed within two to three years, said Dr Mohan, adding that with greater urbanization, growth of middle class and ageing of population, there will be huge numbers of people with diabetes in the near future.

-- The study is the first national data on diabetes since ICMR study in 1971.

--- It focuses on rural and urban areas whereas the previous National Urban Diabetes Study focused on metros while Prevalence of Diabetes in India Study focused only on small towns and villages

--- This will be the first time in India a survey will include the north east states

--- There are 77.2 million individuals with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome

--- Diabetes has now become the young man’s disease with the younger population in the age group of 20-24 being affected

--- The prevalence of diabetes was higher than that of diabetes in all states except Tamil Nadu where periodic screening is done