India faces major challenges from diabetes, with high rates of undiagnosed cases and deaths in younger people. If not addressed, the economic costs of diabetes in India will be huge. Screenings in rural Andhra Pradesh found high rates of diabetes and hypertension, showing an increasing problem in rural areas. Diet and lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercise and weight control are key to managing the disease.

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India faces a triple challenge when it comes to diabetes
1* India is ranked second for having the maximum number
of people with diabetes in age group of 20-79(IDF 2012)
2* The second challenge is, half the people with diabetes
do not even know that they have diabetes
3* Half of the people who die of diabetes are under age of
60 years and this young country like India cannot afford it
Diabetes consumes 2 to three times more health care
resources compared to non diabetics, and diabetes care
might account for about 15% of budgetary health care
spends
If India does not address diabetes now, the economic loss
due to diabetes can be huge
India would have the highest diabetics (79.4 million)in the
world by 2030 and by 2035 109 million diabetics(WHO-IDF
2004)
And coming to Andhra Pradesh . . .
(from THE HINDU, March 15,2013)
A high incidence of diabetes and blood pressure are no
longer the bane of only urban areas. In a worrisome trend,

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the two have made inroads into rural pockets in Andhra
Pradesh as well.
Statistics from an ongoing massive house-to-house
screening programme of people above 30 years in eight
districts in the State so far showed the incidence of
hypertension to be 7.73 per cent and that of diabetes to
be 7.29 per cent.
In all, 20 lakh people were checked for the two conditions
in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Krishna,
Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool under the
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer,
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
The highest incidence of both diseases was reported in
Nellore district. Of the 1, 72, 482 people screened, 11.71
per cent turned out to be diabetic and 12.45 per cent had
blood pressure. In Vizianagaram district, 11.54 per cent of
nearly three lakh people suffered from hypertension, while
9.81 per cent had diabetes.
In Krishna district, the incidence of diabetes was 10.36 per
cent, while blood pressure was 8.7 per cent. The following
are the details for diabetes and BP respectively in the other
five districts—Srikakulam (4.07 per cent and 5.34 per cent),
Prakasam (6.5 per cent and 5.45 per cent), Chittoor (4.75
and 5.60), Kadapa (7 and 10) and Kurnool ( 4.72 and 4.68).

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Dr. Geetha Prasadini, Additional Director, (Disease Control
Programme), Directorate of Public Health and Family
Welfare, said those diagnosed with diabetes and
hypertension were being referred to the nearest Community
Health Centres (CHCs) and Area Hospitals for further
investigations and medical management. They were also
being given anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic medicines
free of cost at PHCs and sub-centres.
This is a scary scenario for us
Some startling facts and figures
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1. India currently has the world's largest diabetic population
with an estimated four crore people
2. Every sixth person is a diabetic in Hyderabad and other
metropolitan cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
3. Every 15 minutes a leg is lost to diabetes in India
4. In India 40,000 legs are amputed per year, most of them
as a result of an infection in the foot of someone with
diabetes.
5. It is estimated that 1000 amputations take place in a
year in Hyderabad, 3000 in Delhi and 4000 in Mumbai.

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6. Eightyfive per cent of amputations can be prevented with
early detection and early interventions
Early signs
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1. Increase in urine volume and frequency. It increases as
the glucose levels in blood go up. Kidneys filter blood and
try to rid it of excess glucose. Frequent urination means
dehydration which seriously affects the health.
2. Increase in thirst. Since water is lost in excessive
urination, the patient drinks more water. Excess sugar
concentrates the blood and this also increases the thirst.
3. General weakness and fatigue.
4. Slow or rapid weight loss. Many patients with early
diabetes notice they are actually eating more and yet
losing weight.
5. Increased hunger and glucose though more in blood is
not available for cells as fuel for energy.
6. Blurred vision may be noticed. This is because the fast
increasing blood glucose levels can cause fluid shifts in the
lens of the eye.
7. Infections of gums, bladder and skin. Women may notice
recurrent urinary or vaginal infections.
8. Healing of wounds is slow in noninsulin-dependent cases.
9. Irritability; drowsiness, tingling or numbness in hands and

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feet, or itching.
10. Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
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Diet Control
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Diabetic patients should follow a strict dietary system to
keep the disease under check. They must avoid the
following foods.
1. Salt since it aggravates the problem.
2. Sugar as it only adds to the calories and carbohydrates.
3. Foods containing fat or high fat content.
4. Control intake of red meat to the extent possible.
5. Whole milk or milk products. Low fat milk is sufficient.
6. Tea and coffee. Take just two cups of the conventional
tea or decaffeinated coffee in a day.
7. White flour and its products.
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Diabetic patients may take the following items in sufficient
quantities to keep their body in good condition.
1. Bitter gourd as it contains plant insulin which reduces
blood sugar levels.
2. Fenugreek seeds.
3. Jamun or Indian black plum or berry.
3. Garlic.
4. Onions.

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5. Vegetables and foods with high fibre content.
6. Cinnamon solution
7. Foods containing anti-oxidants like lemon.
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How to manage diabetes
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Patients can help control their blood sugar and diabetes
when they eat healthy, get enough exercise, and stay at a
healthy weight. A healthy weight also helps patients control
their blood fats and lower the blood pressure. Many people
with diabetes also need to take medicine to help control
their blood sugar.
Good food choices for diabetes are no different than what
is recommended for all other people.
One can help control the blood sugar and diabetes by
eating healthy, doing enough exercise, and staying at a
healthy weight.
Doctors say that distributing meals and snacks throughout
the day is important for people with diabetes. At least three
meals are recommended.
Diet is a cornerstone of controlling diabetes. More than half
of all adult diabetics manage their diabetes with diet rather
than insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.