KOCHI: Tamil Nadu has the highest prevalence of diabetes in the country followed by Kerala, showed a 16-yearstudy published in The Lancet this year. While the prevalence rate in Tamil Nadu was 13/100 persons, in Kerala it was 12. In contrast, the northeast states continue to have a low prevalence (an average of 5), revealed the study that had covered cases till 2016.However, state health department believes that Kerala has much more diabetes cases than Tamil Nadu. Its latest study (figures updated till 2017) – in collaboration with Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies – showed a prevalence rate of 20/100 persons. But even this may not be the actual figure; health officials feel that the number may be much higher.Therefore, to know the exact prevalence of diabetes in Kerala, government has plans to start population-based screening in all 14 districts to create a registry on diabetes.“The programme began on a pilot basis in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Wayanad and Kannur . On World Diabetes Day , we have decided to extend it to all districts and funds for the same have been released. Diabetes prevalence among adults in Kerala is now as high as 20% (one in five adults),” said Dr Bipin K Gopal, nodal officer, non-communicable diseases control programme, directorate of health services.Experts believe that the current estimate suggest that the lifetime risk of diabetes is as high as 70-80%.“The real concern is about diabetes in prolific life years as it hampers productivity, increases absenteeism and presenteeism. Available data suggest escalation of diabetes risk in early adulthood among Indians,” said Dr Jeemon Panniyammakal, assistant professor, epidemiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology.He was part of the Lancet study titled: “The increasing burden of diabetes and variations among the states of India: the Global burden of disease study 1990-2016”.The study – funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the Union ministry of health and family welfare – looked at the burden of diabetes in the country.“Early diabetes leads to complications in early 30s and 40s. Complications are often devastating for individuals and families and it ranges from blindness to heart attacks and stroke. Untreated diabetes often leads to complications early in life, severe productivity loss and even death. Most of the burden attributable to diabetes is avoidable,” added Dr Jeemon.“Nearly 80 % of diabetes is preventable by adopting a proper lifestyle and diet. If we don’t prevent diabetes now, then we are paving the way for a catastrophe,” said diabetologist Dr Sreejith N Kumar.

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