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Type 2 diabetes, which was till two decades ago prevalent mostly in South India, is today equally rampant in North India and at the same time, it has also moved from metros, cities and urban areas to rural hinterland, the union minister added
The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said that over the last two decades, India has seen a surge in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which has now acquired pan-Indian proportions.
Type 2 diabetes, which was till two decades ago prevalent mostly in South India, is today equally rampant in North India and at the same time, it has also moved from metros, cities and urban areas to rural hinterland, the union minister added while inaugurating the Centre for Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders at Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre in Pune today.
The Centre would focus on preventive screening of the most common disease, diabetes.
Quoting from the recently released guidelines by Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr Singh said that the past three decades have witnessed a 150 per cent increase in the number of people with diabetes in the country.
He said, the main concern is the progressive lowering of the age at which type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed, with the disease prevalence becoming apparent in the age group of 25-34 years in both urban and rural areas.
Dr Singh said, lifestyle management plays an essential role in managing type 1 diabetes and understanding the effect of diet and physical activity on glycemia is essential for optimal management of the disease.
The Minister pointed out that even during the pre-COVID era, it had been proven with evidence that in the treatment of non-communicable diseases, like for example, diabetes mellitus, the dose of insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs could be brought down with the adjuvant practise of certain Yoga, Asana and lifestyle modifications available in naturopathy.
Dr Singh also informed that under the Free Drugs Service Initiative of NHM of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, financial support is provided to states and UTs for provision of free essential medicines, including insulin, for poor and needy people including children.
Furthermore, quality generic medicines, including insulin, are made available at affordable prices to all under ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’, in collaboration with the state governments, the minister added.
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