[kavindra]

NY Times last week had a very interesting front page article: NY Times article that brought up the issue of growing rate of diabetes in India. I thought this might of interest to some of the people TIT.

Would be interested in hearing your take on the story, even though it is a bit long.

[captmahajan]

6% countrywide and 16% (was it? it was a long article!) in Chennai are indeed chilling figures.

The Indian newspapers and magazines have also written about this over the last couple of years. However, with the increasing headlong rush into generally high stress living in India with a "work hard, play hard" culture admired by many, I don't see lifestyle choices changing easily in cities.

[kavindra]

While high stress is a major factor, so are propensity for relatively heavy food combined with a lack of exercise.  While the extra-extra obesity seen in the US is less often seen, the number of overweight folks particularly in the middle class and above is prehaps rising in India.

I would be interested in finding out the level of awareness of the epidemic proportions of this problem. Also, the few anecdotal cases discussed in the article suggested that the management of disease is perhaps lacking. That said, discussing the need of acceptable blood glucose levels across the time instead of at specific points in time is something I have had little success getting my own father who has diabetes to practice - so I know this is a very difficult challenge to begin with. And, the care and ability for the poor to both understand the proper management practices for this condition and put into practice is undoubtedly a very difficult challenge.

I am also interested in the basis (or lack thereof) of the statement made in the article that Indians have a particular vulnerability to diabetes...

Thanks.

[priya]

Quote

I am also interested in the basis (or lack thereof) of the statement made in the article that Indians have a particular vulnerability to diabetes...

There are mostly Gujaratis where I live, as well as a few Sindhis - but there is a very high incidence of diabetes in their communities.  I would say that most of them are reasonably fit and a lot are vegetarian.  Could this be a genetic problem or is it an inherent condition amongst Indians?

[captmahajan]

not an expert, but diabetes is hereditary, isnt it? if true, then genetics must play a role.

[kavindra]

captmahajan, on Sep 21 2006, 12:31 PM, said:

not an expert, but diabetes is hereditary, isnt it? if true, then genetics must play a role.

Here is Mayo Clinic website on the type-2 diabetes risk factors:

Although researchers don't fully understand why some people get type 2 diabetes and others don't, it's clear that certain factors increase your risk. These factors include:

    * Weight. Being overweight is one of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to your own insulin. Still, it's not just a matter of how much you weigh. It also depends on where the weight is distributed. If you have extra weight in the upper part of your body — particularly around your abdomen — you're especially at risk. The good news is that many people with type 2 diabetes who are overweight can improve their glucose levels simply by losing weight.
    * Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose, makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, increases blood flow and improves circulation in even the smallest blood vessels. Exercise also helps build muscle mass. That's important because most of the glucose in your blood is absorbed into your muscles. When you have less muscle tissue, more sugar stays in your blood.
    * Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with the disease. In fact, researchers have confirmed that a variant in a particular gene increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In a July 2006 study, the risk of developing diabetes was about 80 percent higher for participants who inherited two copies of the newly identified gene variant than for participants who didn't carry the variant.
    * Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. Often, that's because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But diabetes is also increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.
    * Race. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, people of some races are more likely to develop diabetes. More than 6 percent of the general population has diagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. But that rate doubles for blacks and Hispanics and more than doubles for American Indians. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, half of all adults have type 2 diabetes — one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world.
    * Gestational diabetes. If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greater. If you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, you're also at risk of type 2 diabetes.
    * Depression. Depression seems to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, possibly because people with depression often gain weight and are inactive.