Over 482,000 deaths due to diabetes every year in Southeast Asia, including India: WHO data

Diabetes is causing more than 4.82 lakh deaths every year in South-East Asia, which includes India. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the need to increase measures to prevent and control this serious problem related to blood sugar.

According to WHO, diabetes has become a serious global health problem, which can lead to life-threatening complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. Although regional countries have made significant progress in its treatment, there are still many challenges to overcome this problem.

diabetes cases

WHO reported that by June 2024, more than 6 crore people have come on the prescribed protocols for the treatment of diabetes and hypertension and this number is expected to reach 10 crore by 2025. Despite this, more than 2.6 lakh children and adolescents suffering from type 1 diabetes are not getting adequate insulin and monitoring facilities. Apart from this, the incidence of type-2 diabetes is also increasing among the youth.

WHO’s ‘Colombo Call to Action’

“Getting timely treatment for diabetes can save lives,” Saima Wajed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, said while speaking at the two-day regional meeting of World Diabetes Day 2024 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Health experts and officials came together to adopt the “Colombo Call to Action”, calling on member countries to work together to drive innovation, ensure treatment and create awareness.

Timely treatment of diabetes is necessary

“More than half of the 800 million people with diabetes are not receiving treatment,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a video message. He stressed the need for prevention, timely detection and better treatment. WHO also recommends that primary health services should be equipped with standard treatment procedures, essential medicines, good diagnostic equipment and skilled healthcare personnel for timely treatment of diabetes cases.

Shared responsibility of government and society

“Diabetes prevention is a shared responsibility of governments, health services and society,” said Saima Wajed. He said that to deal with the increasing cases of diabetes, everyone needs to work together so that it can be stopped and its effects can be reduced. Governments and health organizations need to ensure better infrastructure, awareness and affordable treatment for diabetes.