Kashmiri youth at a risk of diabetes epidemic: studies “25%” youth suffers from abnormality of glucose

Danish Nabi
A study by Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) endocrinology department has revealed that Kashmir has a risk of diabetes epidemic among young adults between the age group of 20 to 40 years.
The study aimed at estimating prevalence of known and unknown diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) in the youth of the Valley has shown 25 per cent of the young adults have “abnormalities of glucose” which is likely to transform into diabetes. The study has revealed a higher risk among the urban youth of the Valley.
The study has revealed that overall incidence of diabetes in these young adults to be around “2.4 per cent.” It has also revealed a higher prevalence of diabetes and other related disorders in the youth as compared to the overall population of the valley.
The study has shown that in these youth “prevalence rates of Diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), Impaired Fasting Glycemia or IFG (WHO) and IFG (ADA) were 2.5per cent, 2.0 per cent, 11.9 per cent and 26.7 per cent respectively
Whileas The overall prevalence rates of “Diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed), IGT, IFG (WHO) and IFG (ADA) were 2.4 per cent, 1.6 per cent, 11.1 per cent and 25.2 per cent respectively”
The study has revealed higher prevalence of Diabetes in the predominantly urban district of Srinagar. It has shown 3.8 per cent higher prevalence in Srinagar as compared to the rural districts of the Valley.
It has also revealed that subjects with unknown Diabetes belonged to relatively higher age group, between 30 and 32 years. The study has revealed that the risk of having abnormal glucose tolerance was about one and a half times higher in the age group of 30 to 40 years as compared to 20 to 30 years age group.
The study has shown that the ratio of known to unknown diabetes cases in the Valley is 1:10 i.e; “for each diagnosed diabetes patient in the Valley there are 10 cases who unknowingly suffer from diabetes.”
Talking to Greater Kashmir director SKIMS, Dr Abdul Hameed Zargar, said the transformation of abnormality of glucose into diabetes would directly depend upon the obesity, dietary habits and life style of the people. He said the people can avoid diabetes by changing their lifestyle.
“If people avoid calories, non-veg diet and exercise regularly they can avoid diabetes for decades. If people can change their life style they may not develop diabetes at all,” he said.
He said the sedentary life style in urban areas has been responsible for increase in diabetes among the youth. “Earlier the age for diabetes occurrence was 40 years but now it is just 20 years and it is more prevalent in urban youth,” he said.
The study conducted completed this year was the first large population study from North India conducted to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and other abnormalities of glucose tolerance in young adults. It has been accepted by “diabetes research and clinical practice” for publication.
The study was headed by director SKIMS Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar and the others included in the team were Dr Abdul Ahad Wani, Dr Bashir Ahmad Laway, Dr Shariq Rashid Masoodi, Dr Arshad Iqbal Wani, Dr Mir Iftikhar Bashir and Farooq Ahmad Dar.—