BHUBANESWAR: Orissa is sitting on a powder-keg of diabetes explosion. A situation wrought on by rapid industrialisation and economic progress that has effected drastic changes in the living standards and lifestyle of the people of the State.The metabolic disorder is on a rapid surge in the State gripping as high as 15 percent of the urban population, around nine percent of the semi-urban populace and 5.5 percent of the rural people, a cross-sectional study across different parts of the Capital city, districts and villages conducted by the Kanungo Institute of Diabetes Specialities (KIDS) has revealed.Prevalence of diabetes has almost doubled in urban areas while it has grown more than five fold in the rural areas in the last 20 years. According to an ICMR study in 1990, diabetes prevalence among the population in major urban areas was eight percent and 0.8 percent in rural areas.The urban population survey conducted in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar covered localities of Buddheswari Colony, Dharma Vihar, Bomikhal, Rental Colony, Old Town, Khandagiri, Rasulgarh, Unit-I, Bhimtangi, Sailashree Vihar and Dumduma. It revealed an average diabetes prevalence of 15.6 percent.The semi-urban population survey at Ghatikia, Sampur, Malipada and Paikarapur on the fringes of the Capital city also were marked by an alarming increase in prevalence with over 8.6 percent people afflicted by the metabolic disease.A decade back, semi urban areas had a prevalence of three percent. However, the major cause of concern, is the increase in rural areas which has risen to 5.4 percent.Jagatsinghpur has shown a prevalence rate of around 6.2 percent, Rairangpur, 6.4 percent, Tangi 5.8 percent, Ranapur 5.1 percent, Nimapara 4.8 percent and Khurda 5.2 percent.According to chairman of KIDS and chief diabetologist Dr Alok Kanungo, the sudden phase of economic growth and development has fuelled diabetes explosion in the State.“When a very very poor man, who struggle to get one square meal per day starts getting two or three meals every day, chances of getting diabetes increases significantly. At the same time, people are switching over to physical activity-less sedentary lifestyle and are taking to unhealthy junk food habits”, Dr Kanungo explained.Diabetes does not affect a single part of the body, rather damages all the key organs as heart, kidney, eyes, nerves and brain."It is the fourth largest killer after heart attacks, stroke and accident. But diabetes can be checked and managed in 80 percent of the affected people, through adoption of proper lifestyle, diet and exercise” Dr Kanungo asserted.With the World Diabetes Day set to be observed on November 14 on the theme “Act on Diabetes.Now”, KIDS is set to organise a walkathon from Master Canteen to Jaydev Bhawan to generate awareness among the common people.
Comments
0 comment