Know Your Risk and Beat Diabetes with Preventive Measures #BeatTheSugarTrap Campaign
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Geetanjali Gupta
Written By Muskan Taneja
on Nov 15, 2024
Last Edit Made By Muskan Taneja
on Nov 16, 2024
November is the month dedicated to diabetes awareness. This month encourages people to take steps to prevent, manage, and diagnose diabetes. While we in India celebrate November 14th as Children's Day, this day is also observed as "World Diabetes Day."
Studies say that the world's diabetes population will double to 1.3 billion by 2050, while in India, the number of people with diabetes will reach 134 million by 2045. The situation raises concern among people. Not only that but if we talk about prediabetics, India alone is home to 136 million people with prediabetes. This is alarming and, if not controlled on time, can lead to a significant enhancement in Non-Communicable Diseases, leading to high morbidities at a younger age.
It is time to prevent the preventable and hold control of health and wellness for a healthier Bharat.
As a purpose-driven Pan India diagnostic network, Redcliffe Labs steps forward on World Diabetes Day to spread awareness through the campaign BeattheSugarTrap about the severe, not reversible, but preventable health concern- diabetes.
Globally, India ranks second in diabetes, accounting for 17% of the world’s diabetic population, making it the ‘Diabetes Capital of the World.’ A study by the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found that 101 million, or 11.4% of India’s population, is diabetic, which is shockingly 36% higher compared to 2021.
Not only that, but the health risks and associated complications due to diabetes are increasing each day because research reveals that 50% of people living with diabetes are still unaware of their condition.
The need of the hour is to ‘Know your diabetes, beat your diabetes.’
Importance of Our Campaign #BeatTheSugarTrap
Our campaign #BeatTheSugarTrap raises awareness about the lifelong health concerns due to diabetes and how simple lifestyle changes can keep people's health intact. It is essential because clinicians and healthcare professionals attribute the rising diabetes trends in India to junk food, increasing obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive use of harmful products like tobacco, alcohol, and other drug abuse.
Gone are the days when diabetes was an age-old concern. It is seemingly increasing among youngsters, especially those with type 2 diabetes. A 2021 study found that type 2 diabetes in youngsters was 397 per 100,000 people. The study also found that approximately 40.1% of people with a family history are at a high risk of fluctuating blood sugar levels.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) says that 77 million people have diabetes, while 25 million are prediabetic, which creates the need to stay aware of one’s blood sugar levels and take timely preventive measures. Redcliffe Labs provides a Pre-Diabetes Risk Checker that informs about the risk of diabetes. Our pre-diabetes risk checker evaluates your susceptibility to prediabetes or borderline diabetes. Our tool is meticulously crafted based on Indian demographics like age, gender, and diabetes history.
People who smoke, are obese, have poor blood circulation, or have kidney or liver disease are at risk of catching cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A study found that diabetic people are at a 16% higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) than the general population, making CVD a leading cause of mortality in people with diabetes. With our diabetes profile comprehensive package with free HsCRP, you can measure your blood sugar level and prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
India has 22.5 million people who have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which is expected to increase to 35.7 million by the year 2045. IGT is a metabolic state that increases the risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The majority of Indians have type-2 diabetes. However, type-1 and gestational diabetes cases are rising as well. In 2019, India had approximately 95,600 prevalent cases of type-1 diabetes per year and 15,900 fresh cases every year. Our campaign spread awareness about diabetes, its types, and its prevalence.
We did a live session with Dr. Anushree Mehta, who has 10 years of experience in diabetes and obesity management. She provided insightful knowledge on managing and overcoming the challenges of high blood sugar and proven strategies for effective blood sugar levels to break free from the sugar trap.
Watch the video for more details:
https://youtu.be/SRh90CY-xOE?si=SyShaln-SPIfZHdz
Our ‘Health Pe Charcha’ with Dr. Neha Prabhakar, MD Pathology and consultant pathologist, provided information about diabetes, the role of family history or genetics in diabetes, and how to prevent it. The informative session enlightened people with meaningful information about diabetes.
During Diabetes Awareness Month, people, organizations, and healthcare professionals all come together to promote the importance and effectiveness of a prediabetes risk checker, which plays a major role in preventing the spread of diabetes.
We teamed up with dietician Simran Bhasin and creators Aayan Sheikh and Shruti G Rao to spread awareness about prioritizing health and measuring sugar levels in a timely manner through our pre-diabetes risk checker. Our Pre-Diabetes Risk Assessment can help you know your risk level with just a few steps.
The steps to measure your risk level:
- Download the Redcliffe Labs App.
- Click on the ‘Pre-Diabetes Risk Checker.’
- Answer a few simple questions to know if you’re at risk.
In just three simple steps, you can detect the risk.
Diabetes and Health Concerns
Diabetes doesn’t only affect your insulin levels, but it can also cause several health issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that people with diabetes have a high risk of health problems like heart attack, kidney failure, and stroke.
- Cardiovascular Diseases- Diabetes leads to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which increases the risk of heart or cardiovascular diseases. A diabetic person can experience heart attack, stroke, chest pain, and atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries).
- Damage in the Nerve- Excessive amounts of sugar in the blood can affect the blood vessels, especially in the legs. You may experience tingling, burning sensations, and numbness in the hand or foot.
- Diabetic Nephropathy- Kidney damage or diabetic nephropathy happens when a cluster of tiny blood vessels filter from the blood. A study found that 34.4% of Indians have diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
- Foot Ulcers—People with diabetes often experience nerve damage in their feet, which increases the risk of foot complications. Diabetic foot ulcers affect 15% of people with diabetes. Older adults, males, and people with high body mass index are at risk of developing foot ulcers.
- Skin, Eyes, and Mouth Damage—Diabetes may lead to bacterial or fungal infections on the skin. Some people with diabetes have experienced damage to the blood vessels of the eye, which may cause blindness.
To know about preventive measures for diabetes, check out https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/news/136-million-indians-are-at-high-risk-of-diabetes-heres-how-you-can-prevent-it/
Why Are We Doing This?
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that 136 million people are at risk of pre-diabetes, which shows an increase in diabetes. We, as a renowned diagnostic lab, provide a ‘Pre-diabetes Risk Checker’ and comprehensive diabetes tests through which you can monitor your blood sugar levels.
The National Library of Medicine conducted a study that found that 58.4% of urban people and 36.8% of rural people were aware of diabetes, showing a lack of awareness about diabetes in rural areas.
Another study found that 21.5% of Indians are taking treatment for diabetes, but the rate was lower in rural areas. In rural areas, only 1.5% of people are aware of the genetic inheritance of diabetes, compared to 61.3% of people in urban areas. Literacy rate, socioeconomic growth, and lifestyle directly contribute to this issue.
Obesity is an issue that contributes to diabetes. A study found that 40% of women and 12% of men in India are obese, while another study found that 46.7% of males and 39.6% of females knew about diabetes. All these statistics show the need for awareness about diabetes in India.
If you experience frequent urination, blurry vision, chronic fatigue, dry skin, or numbness in the hands, you may have diabetes. We, as India’s leading diagnostic lab, provide healthcare services at an affordable rate, making diagnostics accessible to all.
Here are some tests that you must take to measure your blood sugar levels and maintain your health.
We provide more than 3600 tests with a home sample collection service. Our diabetes test includes information about your blood sugar levels. Our customized packages can help you screen the risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes.
The Final Thought
Diabetes is not a mere health condition that you should neglect because, if ignored, it may lead to severe health issues. People with a family history of diabetes or a sedentary lifestyle can check their risk of diabetes through our ‘Pre-Diabetes Risk Checker.’
Our brand campaign spreads awareness about early detection and timely monitoring, which can help you take care of your health. Although the disease can’t be reversible, you can control it by small lifestyle modifications like diet, physical movement, and regular screening. Taking care of your health is in your hands. Take the diabetes profile comprehensive package to measure your blood sugar levels.
