NAGPUR: The first phase of ‘
Maze Kutumb,
Mazi Jababdari’ (My family, my responsibility)
survey in Nagpur district has thrown startling results as 27,490 citizens detected with
diabetes were blissfully
unaware of their diabetic
status.
More than 18 lakh citizens in the district were covered for Covid-19, diabetes, hypertension and many other ailments during the first phase. While 1,098 of them were found positive for Covid-19, over 4,000 were detected with hypertension. In Nagpur city, teams of health department visited more than 4.98 lakh households and covered around 11 lakh people while all others were from rural Nagpur.
According to the survey team members, those having obesity and family history of diabetes were tested for random blood sugar with the help of glucometer.
“Many of those reported with high blood sugar levels were asked to take doctor’s advice immediately,” said a member.
According to
doctors specialized in diabetes treatment, this is a very common phenomenon. “According to International Diabetes Association estimates, 60% of the total diabetics remain unaware of they having the disorder. In India, 12 to 14% of people in urban areas suffer from diabetes,” said Dr Sunil Gupta. “Even in rural India, 8% of the total population has diabetes and most of them are unaware of it,” he added.
Diabetes has proved to be one of the major risk factors in Covid-19 times. Of more than 5,000 deaths that occurred in the region due to Covid-19, about 45% deceased had uncontrolled blood sugar. Vidarbha has reported as many as 48 deaths among younger people (below 25) and almost all of them had diabetes.
“After 30 years of age, everyone having family history of diabetes should test blood sugar level regularly. If you don’t have family history, get yourself tested after 40 years of age and regularly afterwards,” said Dr Gupta. According to him, 90% of type 2 diabetes patients are asymptomatic and hence remain undetected for a longer time.
“Those who smoke, drink, have obesity and other lifestyle problems must test for blood sugar. Early detection can prevent a lot of complications, and simple changes in lifestyle can bring the disorder under control,” he added.