Of epidemic proportions

India has earned the dubious distinction of being the diabetes capital of the world and continues to live up to this disrepute with the number of people afflicted growing exponentially by the day.

The unabated increase in the number of diabetes-debilitated, which reportedly is around 67 million people, is attributed to unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits and routines.

As a result, the country has been witnessing quantum jumps in their numbers – from a lowly 1 per cent to 12 per cent – over the past six decades.

From being confined to a miniscule populace with traditional dietary habits during three decades spanning 1950s to 1980s, diabetes manifested into a systemic incarnation during the last three decades and the reason is quite obvious.

Ironically, the fast-paced technological developments have been instrumental in diminishing health consciousness over the years given sedentary work culture in addition to undiluted junk being served on the platter.

Omnipresent consumerism and tantalising lifestyle options have entrapped us in a traumatic comfort zone. We are becoming used to shortcuts and evolving as zombies.

In addition to immobility and detrimental dietary routine triggering the diabetes, pervasive pollution is accelerating the process, taking it to a point of no return.

Inexplicably, there are very few takers for the innumerable affordable and doable palliatives on offer – apart from the medicinal options – like Yoga and a plethora of physical exercises to prevent and control diabetes.

Though the spread of diabetes cannot be attributed to ignorance alone, it comes almost close to that with the people unable to read the symptoms during the early stages. Meanwhile, it starts impacting the functioning of other organs, sometimes, to the point of dysfunction and malfunction.

According to medical experts, the risk of death in myocardial infarction is higher in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Life expectancy is also reported to be three times less in diabetics.

The only panacea to prevent and stem the onset of diabetes is to break the built-in change resistant attitude and opt for a healthier and life-saving mode. This is the only way we can create immunity and protection against lingering threat of susceptibility and vulnerability.

According to reports, there are about 30 million pre-diabetics in India, and, by 2030, India will have the largest number of patients in the world. Though there is a concerted focus on research to develop a variety of medical solutions, a majority of the medicines are only to control diabetes rather than prevent it.

But, considering the widespread ramifications and the potent lethal impact, there is a need to prevent diabetes rather than get afflicted and then suffer from the consequences.

In fact, it requires only a little effort and more of commitment to prevent the onset of diabetes. Cut out junk food and get on a routine of tasty and nutritious diet –which comprises a tastier and more palatable variety than junk and sugar-laden food.

And well, stretch your body or take a stroll to beat the laziness and lethargy out of you.