New Delhi: In recognition of the potential risk of illness and mortality rate infused by COVID-19 on diabetes patients, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released new guidelines promoting preventive measures against type 1 diabetes.
"India is home to the world's second-largest adult diabetes population, and every sixth person with diabetes in the world is an Indian. The past three decades witnessed a 150 percent increase in the number of people with diabetes in the country," said ICMR while speaking on the surge.
Type 1 diabetes, which appears in individuals during adolescence, is a chronic condition where the pancreas fails to produce the required amount of insulin. They destroy the beta cells that are responsible for insulin production. Almost 1.1 million people in the world are diagnosed with this condition.
According to ICMR, the implementation of healthy lifestyle patterns helps in improving the life span of the affected individuals. Blood pressure and lipid levels should be regularly examined. Practising physical exercise also helps in reducing cardiovascular risks.
"Indian (especially South-Indian and East-Indian) diets are rich in simple carbohydrates. The intake of complex carbohydrates should be encouraged to constitute at least 70% of the total carbohydrates," added the health association in the guidelines.
Insulin therapies that promote the intake of the hormone help individuals sustain the risks. However, side effects like hypoglycaemia, weight gain, and infections add to this alternative.
The health association aims to encourage healthy lifestyle patterns by evicting stigma and stereotypes associated with the illness.