Over 60pc of urban India unaware Diabetes: Survey

Kolkata, Jan 20 : More than 60pc percent of the Indian Urban public does not know that uncontrolled diabetes affects primary organs like heart, kidney and eyes, according to a survey conducted by market research firm IMRB and commissioned by world leader in diabetes care - Novo Nordisk .

The survey covered 6 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Ahmedabad) and 600 respondents between the ages 35 - 60. Half of the respondents had diabetes and half without diabetes. The survey which showed that almost half of respondents withohut diabetes (51pc ) felt that they would never get diabetes and about one- fifth of the respondents regarded obesity as the primary cause of diabetes while an equal number of them maintained that diabetes is predominantly inherited.

Significantly, despite India having the largest population of people with diabetes in the world, more than 28pc of the respondents said that the possibility of an average Indian being affected by diabetes was low or negligible.

The study also revealed that most people with diabetes were unaware that the HbA1C test is the right indicator of their blood glucose control with only 15pc mentioning it.

The results of the survey bring to light the lack of awareness among Indians despite India having the world's largest population of people with diabetes - 50.8 million as per the latest IDF statistics.

The study corroborate Novo Nordisk's call for action for public private partnerships to create education and awareness initiatives to raise awareness diabetes

Survey Key Findings

All India: In the survey
More than 60pc of the people did not know the impact of diabetes on the primary organs. The awareness among diabetic people was marginally higher with about 50pc of diabetics being able to state the effects of diabetes precisely.

On the whole, about 35pc of the respondents had a family history of diabetes. More than 61pc of the diabetic respondents and about 15pc of the non - diabetic respondents said that they had a family history of diabetes.

Most (60pc ) respondents feel that people become diabetic at the age of 35 - 50 yrs. About 60pc of diabetics and 62pc of non - diabetics endorse this argument.

More than half the respondents consider frequent urination and uncured wounds as the key symptoms of diabetes.

About 75pc of people surveyed thought that taking insulin reduces complication

A major segment of the respondents (57pc ) did not know the normal blood sugar (glucose) levels. Only (54pc ) of people with diabetes knew the normal blood sugar (glucose) levels

Among the people with diabetes Medication is the primary diabetes control measure taken by major proportion of the adults. Nearly 70pc of them monitor their diet and sugar intake levels as a secondary measure.

About a - tenth of diabetics haven't checked their blood sugar levels for more than a year

Ahmedabad:

46pc of the diabetic respondents and 10pc of the non - diabetic respondents have a family history of diabetes.

56pc of the non-diabetic respondents felt that they were unlikely to be affected by diabetes

74pc of people in Ahmedabad felt that insulin reduces the complications of diabetes

Among the diabetic respondents, the awareness about HB1AC test was highest in Ahmedabad (5pc ).

Kolkata

Kolkata has the lowest instances of family history of diabetes with about one - tenth of all respondents (diabetic and non - diabetic) having a family history of diabetes.

More than half (53pc ) of respondents said that they are unlikely to be affected by diabetes

In Kolkata, about 98pc of non - diabetic respondents think medical counsel for diabetes as necessary. However a very low (33pc ) percentage of them have actually consulted a specialist previously for the same purpose.

About 80pc of people in Kolkata feel that insulin reduces the complications of diabetes. This impression is more prevalent among the diabetics (83pc ) than the non - diabetics (73pc ).

Among the diabetic respondents, the awareness about HB1AC test was very low in Kolkata. Only 4pc of the diabetics and none of the non - diabetics knew about the test.

Chennai

Over a third of (diabetic and non - diabetic) people in Chennai have a family history of diabetes.

In contrast to other cities a majority (64pc ) of the respondents in Chennai think that there is a high (50 - 75pc ) possibility of for an average Indian to be affected by diabetes.

Awareness levels about insulin are highest in Chennai

About 90pc of (diabetic and non - diabetic) respondents are aware of the fact that taking insulin reduces further complications.

However awareness of HB1AC test is quite poor in Chennai with just 2pc of the respondents mentioning it as the ideal test for diabetes.

The Diabetics in the city are aware of the importance of regular blood tests. About half of them have undergone blood tests in the past three months. About 30pc of them have had their blood sugar levels checked in the past 1 year.

Mumbai

40pc of the respondents have a family history of diabetes.

In Mumbai a substantial (53pc ) percentage of respondents assert that the chance of an average Indian to be affected by diabetes risk is rather low.

Awareness about the parts of the body that could be affected by diabetes is the lowest in Mumbai with almost 20pc of diabetics and 55pc of non-diabetics unable to answer this question.

Knowledge about blood sugar levels was lowest in Mumbai. About 73pc of diabetics and 88pc of non-diabetics are not aware of the normal blood sugar levels.

Mumbai has the highest no. of diabetics (24pc ) haven't checked their blood sugar levels for more than a year

Delhi

Delhi has Highest (49pc ) instances of family history of diabetes.

Respondents in Delhi stand divided between in their perception of the risk of Indians being affected by diabetes. 40pc of the respondents (54pc of diabetics and 26pc of non-diabetics) state that the risk is significant (50-75pc ). At the same time, 44pc of the respondents (38pc of diabetics and 50pc of non-diabetics) assert that the risk is rather low (10-50pc ).

The non-diabetic respondents in Delhi were the most optimistic with about 70pc of them stating that they were unlikely to be affected by diabetes.

Almost 16pc of diabetics are not aware of the normal blood sugar levels.

Diabetics in the city get regular blood tests done with about 85pc of them having undergone blood tests in the last three months.

Bangalore

47pc of respondents in Bangalore have a family history of diabetes

Respondents in Bangalore are very conscious about physical exercise with about one third of them believing that lack of physical exercise is a major cause of diabetes. Consequently almost all the respondents (94pc ) were following some kind of exercise regimen.

Consequently, one third of the respondents in Bangalore believe that lack of physical exercise is a major cause of diabetes

The respondents in Bangalore are quite optimistic with 39pc of them saying that diabetes cannot affect all and sundry. 34pc of non - diabetics and 24pc of diabetics maintain that diabetes can affect only people with certain pre- existing conditions.

Awareness about HB1AC test is one of the lowest in Bangalore. Just about 4pc of the respondents have even heard about the test. Very few (29pc ) diabetics are aware of the normal blood sugar levels.

Diabetics in Bangalore do not get their blood sugar levels checked regularly. 15pc of them have not checked their sugar levels in the past 1year.

India has more than 50 million people with diabetes, and the number expected to reach 80 million by 2025, diabetes is a very real threat to the country's economic and developmental goals.

What is even more a matter of concern is the fact that despite an adult prevalence rate of 6.2pc , only 6-7 million people are treated. Some of the results of late or inadequate treatment of diabetes include complications, such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney failure, diabetic retinopathy and even death.

Recent studies have shown that early and appropriate use of insulin can not only prevent short-term complications, but also reduce long-term morbidity and mortality and potentially alter the natural progression of the disease.