Changing lifestyles and diet are the primary cause of increase in diabetes the world over. A significant rise in type-2 diabetes with the highest prevalence among Asians, is the latest findings. Diabetes-the new pandemic in Asia, screams the headlines. Diabetes has been around for a long time but it is alarming to note that the number of cases have been on the rise.

Type-2-diabetes is a common disorder affecting millions over the globe. Normally the food is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar- which passes into the bloodstream where it is used by the cells. Type 2 Diabetes also the adult onset diabetes occurs when the body is no longer sensitive to responsiveness to glucose. These people produce insulin but the receptors no longer respond to the insulin. The circulatory blood glucose levels rise to unhealthy levels. Obesity, family history hypertension, high cholesterol levels result in this metabolic syndrome.

Pandemic in Asia:

Asians are genetically pre-disposed to higher risk and there is a pandemic causing panic.

An estimated 32 million Asian Indians have been diagnosed with this condition and is expected to rise and double over the next 30 years

A study was conducted by the Mayo researchers and it was speculated that there might be a difference in the way food is metabolized in this population [laying a key role in the rise of the pandemic in Asia.

What was interesting was the fact that the BMI was much lower in Asians and obesity wasn’t the issue. In addition earlier onset of diabetes was seen.

The key question then became if any metabolic differences are present, according to K. Sreekumaran Nair, Mayo endocrinologist conducting the study.

The Mayo group studied 13 diabetic Indians, 13 non diabetic Indians and 13 non diabetic Americans of European origin.

The same tests of insulin resistance and biopsy were conducted for all the patients.

Results of Study:

It was found that Indian subjects had a greater insulin resistance than Americans though subjects were not obese.

Indian diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance had higher mitochondrial function than in their counterparts which could explain the pandemic in Asia.

Urban population is known to be less physical than those in rural areas. Correspondingly the food habits change too and high energy content is observed in the diets.

Today some 89 million Asians are diabetic with 4 of the 5 largest populations being from Asia proving the theory of an Asian pandemic.

India has 32.7 million people with diabetes, China has 22.6 million, Pakistan 8.8 and Japan 7.1 million. These statistics contribute to diabetes being an Asian pandemic. It is said that by 2025, 170 million diabetics will inhabit the earth.

It is essential to make lifestyle changes, include strict diet and an exercise regimen into our daily life, to combat the pandemic. Children at a younger age are becoming susceptible to diabetes. With our sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and stressful life the genetic factors come to the forefront giving rise to pandemics such as this. It is an emergency wake-up-call to keep this rise in check if not the world will be taken over by medical problems arising from this. Asians in particular need to spread the awareness in their country.

Image credit: cdc.gov