India finds itself at a crucial healthcare crossroads. While nearly 77 million Indians suffer from diabetes, the numbers are expected to rise to over 124 million by 2045. This relentless rise presents a formidable healthcare challenge and shows a stark reality that demands our unwavering attention. While the disease burden continues to mount, we need to recognize the urgency of the situation and work to avert the complications of diabetes and enhance the overall quality of life through concerted action.

The Shift in Disease Burden
A significant shift marks the evolving face of diabetes in India. The disease is no longer confined to the elderly, but now most of the incidence is as young as 20-30 years. Additionally, this surge is no longer exclusive to urban regions, but it has made inroads into rural areas of the country, which until the last decade was unheard of. However, with the steady rise in the disease burden and the incidence shift, what is more concerning is that the awareness about the condition and its ripple effect on overall health is almost negligent. As the core of associated complications, the change in the diabetes epidemic is not a public healthcare concern anymore. The threat transcends the individual’s and family’s financial situation, collectively affecting the nation’s economic development.

The Impact of Insufficient Care
The magnitude of the diabetes burden impacts care, mainly as there isn’t necessary education, screening, monitoring, and adherence support due to a lack of healthcare professionals, infrastructural shortage, and the urban-rural divide. The consequences of inadequate access to holistic diabetes care unleash a cascade of health complications, including heart and kidney diseases, nerve and retina damage, amputation, and even difficulties in pregnancy. Unfortunately, the ripple effect extends beyond the individual suffering to families and society. Escalating healthcare costs and losing productive years are conspicuous signs of the monumental challenges of insufficient care during and after diagnosis.

The Path to Healthy Living
In the battle against diabetes, the most potent tool is adopting a healthy lifestyle. The awareness and adherence to healthy living not only enables better diabetes care but also holds the key to diabetes prevention. The way to wellness revolves around daily changes right from eating a balanced diet, engaging in physical activity, reducing stress and maintaining a healthy weight with an average range of body mass index to medical adherence, such as controlling blood glucose levels through regular monitoring, following medication schedules and using insulin therapy correctly. The influence of a healthier lifestyle reaches beyond individual wellness; it reverberates through society, reducing the collective disease burden and freeing personal and national resources for broader welfare.

The Unity for Tomorrow
Preventing complications stemming from diabetes is not a solitary responsibility. It encompasses individuals living with the condition and healthcare providers, policymakers, and society. Creating an environment that nurtures diabetes awareness, promotes early diagnosis, and facilitates effective management is a collective task. Raising awareness and educating the community on diabetes prevention and control empowers individuals and families to take charge of their health. In this, the government, healthcare providers and policymakers play a pivotal role, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary support, and that the healthcare system is equipped to address the diabetes challenge.

As we stand at the intersection of rising diabetes prevalence, we must recognize the gravity of the situation and unite in our efforts to tackle this health crisis. This will be possible through collective responsibility, where each citizen, healthcare provider, and policymaker plays a vital role in the battle against diabetes. It’s time to defeat the statistics and remind us that action is needed today to forge a healthier, diabetes-resilient tomorrow for India.

This article was first published in Express Healthcare on 14th November 2023