The ongoing Legislative Assembly has been intense so far, with a minuscule Opposition putting up a brave front and pushing the ruling to the back foot at times. However, one piece of statistics triggered an alarm in the thick of action, charges, and counter-charges in the House. Data showed that in the past two years, the State witnessed an exponential rise in diabetic cases. From April 2022 to March 2023, Goa recorded 9,698 new patients, averaging 25 daily cases. A year earlier, the cases detected were 7,175, with an average of less than 20 per day.
While the positive side is that there are no cases of 10-21 year-olds, what is a cause for concern is that the age group of 30-60 has been most vulnerable, accounting for 85 per cent of the cases detected. Worse is that the younger age group of 21-30 is also falling prey, with an average of two a month. The factors put down by the health minister in a written reply are unhealthy lifestyles, hypertension, urbanisation, dyslipidaemia and obesity.
Last month, the findings of a study conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and the Indian Council of Medical Research revealed interesting details. The study was conducted between the range of 2008 and 2020 with a sample size of 1.13 lakh people from both urban and rural sides and covered 31 states besides union territories. The national presence of diabetes was put at 11.4 per cent, while those suffering from hypertension were found to be 35.5 per cent. Goa figured prominently, with an average of 26.4 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh logged 4.8 per cent. The high rate of diabetes prompted the president of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation to give a clarion call for action asking authorities to intervene with simple measures, including encouraging people to change their lifestyles.
Diabetes is called a silent killer because it can cause serious health issues without any noticeable symptoms and, over time, can lead to life-threatening complications like stroke, heart attack and even kidney failure. Medical experts in the State have attributed the rise in diabetics to the increasing Westernised lifestyle.
With the rapid rise in such cases in Goa, there is a need for urgent interventions. The health ministry must dive deeper into the numbers and collate data on the specific factors responsible, identify particular patterns and reasons, and then create awareness. On the sidelines, Goa can also study the case of Uttar Pradesh which has reported very insignificant numbers.
The State has the apparatus -- a changing diabetic barometer and community diabetes centres for testing and treatment. Also, in some instances, free insulin is being supplied to patients, and a registry has been maintained. However, what is important is to tackle diabetes at its root. Enforcing a gradual lifestyle change could be challenging when there are massive Western influences and very few takers in the new age fast-food and processed food culture. Nonetheless, the government will have to walk this arduous journey if it intends to secure the life of citizens and overcome the hurdles that come along. The time is now.
