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The recently released ‘Abbott Sugar Survey’ shows that nine out of ten people with uncontrolled diabetes believe their blood sugar level is actually under control. Interestingly, Ahmedabad has seen no increase in the number of diabetics in the city in the last one year.
The survey which highlighted interesting city-specific data showed that in the last one year while Bangalore has seen a 14 per cent increase in number of diabetics, Ahmedabad has seen none (or zero per cent increase). Around 58 per cent diabetics in Ahmedabad are on insulin while none or (zero per cent) use a glucometer to monitor their blood glucose levels, according the the survey.
Abbott, one of India’s leading healthcare companies, along with the Association of Physicians of India (API), announced today the results from a national survey conducted among 1,500 adults with uncontrolled diabetes, around 1, 302 caregivers and 60 doctors in India.
Results showed that 90 per cent of people surveyed with uncontrolled diabetes in India continue to perceive that they have control over their glucose levels, despite facts suggesting otherwise.
More than 50 per cent people with diabetes (mostly females) believe that diabetes has impacted their personal life while males with diabetes believe the condition impacts professional life due to exhaustion and fatigue. Women are also more aware about the impact of diabetes than men.
Findings also point to the need to drive education that uncontrolled diabetes can ultimately lead to additional health complications. Nearly 54 per cent of respondents experienced at least one complication because of poor blood sugar control. Respondents from Delhi and Kolkata reported the highest percentage of complications. Among those who face complications, fluctuating glucose levels—or 'glycemic variability'—is the biggest issue faced and feared.
More than 75 per cent of respondents worry about recurrence, especially in the age group of 35 and above. Non-compliance of either diet, medication or exercise are cited as the top three reasons by respondents and caregivers for not -effectively managing diabetes.
People with diabetes, doctors and caregivers consider monitoring sugar levels as a key factor in control and management of diabetes, however 50 per cent of respondents monitor their sugar levels only once in three months. Despite this inadequate monitoring, 40 per cent of the respondents said that they adjust the dose of their medicines themselves to manage their diabetes.
The prevalence of diabetes in India is second largest in the world. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 3, India’s population of people living with diabetes today is 65.1 million, as compared to 50.8 million in 2010. That number is expected to cross 100 million by 2030. The economic burden due to diabetes in India is among the highest in the world and studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family with an adult with diabetes, as much as 25 per cent of family income may be devoted to diabetes care.
