Diabetes Mellitus is know of in India from antiquity. It has been mentioned in Shusruta treatise as well.
Today Diabetes Mellitus is a Global Disease. World Health Organization (W.H.O) has reported that there were 135 million diabetics in 1995. The number would increase to 300 million in 2025. For us in India the disturbing trend is that there are 33 million Diabetics today and they would be 57 million Diabetics in 2025. For Notoriety India would become "Diabetic Capital of the World" as it will harbor the maximum number of Diabetics in the World.
Why Diabetic is so different in our country as compared to the West?
Incidence of Diabetes which was earlier reported to be around 4-5% has now being reported as 12% which is one of the highest prevalence rate in the world. What is more disturbing is in India younger individuals are being affected compared to slightly elderly in the west (10 years younger as compared to westerns) Paripassu with it, complications of Diabetes are also seen in relatively younger individuals in India then in Western countries and ultimately the Morbidity, Mortality as well. This results in loss of productivity and causes socio- economic problems.
Why should one worry about Diabetes ?
Diabetes is not only Global in prevalence but is also Global in systems involvement as well. In other words, Dlabetes virtually involves all pamts of the body such as:
(HEART ATTACK) CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
a] Coronary heart disease is three times more common in Diabetics than Non-Diabetics.
b] Death from Coronary Heart disease is twice in Diabetics as compared to Non-Diabetics.
c] Complication CAD are munch more common in Diabetics than in Non-Diabetics.
Cerebrovascular attacks (Paralysis) 4-5 times in more in Diabetics than in Non - Diabetics.
Nephropathy (Kidney problem) 5 times more in Diabetics than in Non - Diabetics.
25% of Diabetic patients have Retinopathy.
40% of Diabetic patients have Hypertension.
28% of Diabetic patients have Neuropathy.
This leads to greatest morbidity and a huge
economic burden on the family. 50% of all
Traumatic Amputations are because of
Diabetes.
Foetal loss is more common in Diabetic pregnant women than in Non - Diabetic pregnant women besides having large for gestational age infant, hydroamnios, pre eclampsia.
