Saturday, January 19, 2008 22:46 IST
India is the leading country for diabetes with 31.7 million cases in 2000 and the number is expected to rise to 79.4 million by 2030, followed by China with 20.8 million, and the US is third with 17.7 million, according to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Says Dr Neal Barnard of the WHO, in 2000, 171 million people had diabetes worldwide but it was expected to rise to 366 million by 2030. About 90 per cent of the cases are type-2 diabetes (related to lifestyle) and less than 10 per cent of the cases are type-1 diabetes (genetic).
In type-2 diabetes, the body continues to make insulin but the cells of the body resist its action. In the latter, the body no longer makes insulin and is treated with insulin injections. Diet changes can make a drastic difference, sometimes eliminating the need for medication in both type-1 as well as type-2 cases.
Dr Barnard attributes this condition to ‘westernisation of diet’ which has played a major role in this epidemic. “Instead of exporting meat diets to India, America would do better to ‘Easternise’ its own diet and if Americans learn to eat dal, rice and palak they would be slimmer and healthier.” He says Indians should stick to the wholesome thali.
He advocates a plant-based diet which reduces blood sugar, cuts cholesterol and reduces body weight rather than a diet with meat, fish, poultry, milk products or eggs, sugar and oils.
“If strong action is not taken against diabetes prevalence, it will double in the next three decades,” warned Dr Barnard.
healthline@dnaindia.net
90 per cent of the cases are type-2 diabetes, less than 10 per cent of type-1
India is the leading country for diabetes with 31.7 million cases in 2000 and the number is expected to rise to 79.4 million by 2030, followed by China with 20.8 million, and the US is third with 17.7 million, according to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Says Dr Neal Barnard of the WHO, in 2000, 171 million people had diabetes worldwide but it was expected to rise to 366 million by 2030. About 90 per cent of the cases are type-2 diabetes (related to lifestyle) and less than 10 per cent of the cases are type-1 diabetes (genetic).
In type-2 diabetes, the body continues to make insulin but the cells of the body resist its action. In the latter, the body no longer makes insulin and is treated with insulin injections. Diet changes can make a drastic difference, sometimes eliminating the need for medication in both type-1 as well as type-2 cases.
Dr Barnard attributes this condition to ‘westernisation of diet’ which has played a major role in this epidemic. “Instead of exporting meat diets to India, America would do better to ‘Easternise’ its own diet and if Americans learn to eat dal, rice and palak they would be slimmer and healthier.” He says Indians should stick to the wholesome thali.
He advocates a plant-based diet which reduces blood sugar, cuts cholesterol and reduces body weight rather than a diet with meat, fish, poultry, milk products or eggs, sugar and oils.
“If strong action is not taken against diabetes prevalence, it will double in the next three decades,” warned Dr Barnard.
healthline@dnaindia.net
No comments:
Post a Comment