PUDUCHERRY: Highlighting the health complications arising out of lifestyle changes, Dr Ashok Kumar Das, Professor of medicine and Head of endocrinology, Pondicherry Institute of medical sciences, said that diabetes remains undetected in 50 per cent of Indians.
Speaking at the two-day 9th National Insulin Summit (NIS), organised by the Diabetes Research Society (DIABAID) and supported by Novo Nordisk, Dr Das said,”Indians are genetically predisposed towards diabetes. A high carb diet, obesity due to life style changes and the impact of urbanisation and globalisation have led to a rapid rise in diabetes in India”. He added that diabetes in 50 per cent of people remain undetected as a result of which micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications are found in patients at the time of diagnosis.
Dr Das further said that Type II B diabetes is common in South East Asia whereas type II A diabetes is largely prevalent in the West.
Stating that decreased metabolic activity and centuries of malnutrition have precipitated the problem, he added that an individual dies of diabetes every seven seconds in the country. Emphasising that insulin remains underutilised in the country, he added that new treatment options and insulin can help overcome many a barrier.
Inaugurated by Dr K V Raman, Director Health and Family Welfare, government of Puducherry, the summit, which has the participation of more than 300 experts in the field of diabetes from across India, is focused on discussing and sharing path-breaking innovations to combat the disease.