Diabetic women deserve more focus, says specialist
Medical researchers have found that the number of people suffering from diabetes may go up to 101 million by 2030, from its existing figure of 70 million, half of them women, in an overall population of 1.21 billion in the country.
Tirupati: Medical researchers have found that the number of people suffering from diabetes may go up to 101 million by 2030, from its existing figure of 70 million, half of them women, in an overall population of 1.21 billion in the country. Recent studies have indicated that, in South East Asian countries, 25 per cent of all pregnancies were complicated by increase in blood sugar and diabetes had occupied 6th place among the main causes of death.
The care of pregnant women having diabetes has now received attention globally, said the Vice Chairperson of Physicians Association of India, AP Chapter Dr P Krishna Prasanthi, in an exclusive interview to The Hans India, on the eve of 'International Diabetes Day', observed every year on November 14. Dr Prasanthi, who is a renowned diabetes specialist with 17 years of experience in the field in Tirupati, expressed that it was right to choose this year's theme ‘Women and Diabetes’, as it is one of the most pressing issues.
Women with diabetes need special care. But, unfortunately, they are unable to avail treatment in early stages due to lack of accessibility, affordability, health care of facilities and family support. In this regard, adolescent women are the main group requiring more focused attention instead of the pregnant women. Normal women may also get diabetes in pregnancy without having such family history, she said.
Grooms are not coming forward to marry a diabetes woman. When a pregnant woman was told that she is having diabetes, the first question she raises is whether her child also gets it. It has become a psychological problem. While in rural areas, poverty, lack of knowledge, innocence and myths are the reasons for the increasing incidence of diabetes; in urban areas, lack of elderly support, obesity in young age, irregular periods, over nutrition, junk foods, lack of physical activity and lack of exposure to sun light are contributing to the diabetes. Women who do not go for breast feeding for long are more prone to diabetes.
Dr Krishna Prasanthi further stated that Women of all ages requires utmost care in diabetes in general. If any woman having sugar levels not under control should be screened for cancer. Elderly women having sugar levels of 300-400 are to be screened for cervix cancer, they were not disclosing the symptoms to any of their family members. Similarly, 40-50 years women with high sugar levels are prone to breast cancer. As the breast feeding was coming down, the incidence of breast cancer was going up.
According to American Diabetes Association regulations, all diabetes people should be screened for thyroid universally. Because, thyroid and diabetes are sisters. If a woman is having thyroid in pregnancy, she may get diabetes as well. She said government can think of giving free insulin to diabetes patients taking the Kerala model. Also, in all government maternity hospitals, separate OP is to be arranged for pregnant women with diabetes.
By Pradeepkumar Vennelakanti
