Increased intake of protein and dairy products could help reduce the burden of diabetes: study

New Delhi, July 16 (India Science Wire): Diabetes – increasing blood sugar – is an emerging health problem, especially in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, India had 69 million diabetics in 2015 and this number is expected to reach 98 million by 2030. The problem is more serious for Asians because their genetic makeup further exposes them to a high risk of diabetes. younger than their European counterparts

In the absence of treatment, diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as blindness, kidney failure, heart problems, and so on. In addition to genetic factors, the onset of diabetes is related to dietary preferences and lifestyles. Therefore, understanding the connection between the consumption of various foods and the prevalence of diabetes in different states can help to design effective strategies to solve the problem.

A new study has established a link between individuals' dietary preferences and the prevalence of diabetes in various states of India. The study found that eating high-calorie foods, such as sugar and honey, increases the risk of diabetes, while adding high-protein foods and products Dairy in a meal can help reduce the risk of diabetes.

The study is based on data from the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-2016), 2011 census, on per capita crop production and on the consumption of different groups of people. Food from the 68th national survey. It has badessed trends in food availability and preferences in various states with a number of diabetes cases.

It has been found that diabetes is more common in states like West Bengal and Kerala, where people consume more non-vegetarian foods than in those where the diet is primarily vegetarian. Indeed, a vegetarian diet helps manage diabetes by making the body sensitive to insulin hormone.

The researchers also noted that there were more diabetics in the states where people were consuming more sugar and honey, although this trend is not valid in the cases of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Thailand. , Haryana. The study also found that eating high-protein foods such as legumes and nuts reduced the risk of diabetes. Similarly, the prevalence of diabetes was low in states where consumers consumed more dairy products.

Diabetes, often referred to as lifestyle disorder, was also high in urban versus rural areas. Indeed, city dwellers tend to be less physically active. This makes urbanization an important factor for the growing number of diabetics in the country. In addition, diabetes has been found to be more common in men than in women, as has been demonstrated in previous studies.

"Our study identified sensitive areas with a high prevalence of diabetes and recommended targeting them in public health programs," said Dr. Preeti Dhillon, author of the study and badistant professor at the Institute. International Population Science Institute (IIPS) based in Mumbai. talk to India Science Wire.

The badysis showed that 6.9% of Indian adults aged 15 to 49 years had diabetes. Among the states and territories of the Union, diabetes is widespread in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while it is lowest in Rajasthan. Prevalence of the disease has been more prevalent in districts near coastal areas.

"The high prevalence of diabetes in Andamans and Lakshwadeep is interesting because it has not been reported before and it would be useful to consider whether genetic or environmental factors contribute to it," said Dr V. Mohan, director of Madras.
Diabetes Research Foundation. He was not badociated with the study.

Dr. Anoop Misra, Vice President of the Diabetes Foundation (India), said the study provided new information on the dietary context and prevalence of diabetes, but that it should be understood that diabetes was a multifactorial disease. . Genetics, physical activity, alcohol consumption and other lifestyle factors must be taken into account before establishing conclusive links. Food intake is a dynamic and ever-changing process, and can not be completely captured in a cross-sectional snapshot. He did however agree that Indians needed a high protein intake because it stimulated glucose metabolism in the muscles, thus reducing the incidence of diabetes.

The research team at IIPS included Koustav Ghosh and Gopal Agrawal, with the exception of Dr. Dhillon. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Public Health. (India Science Wire)