Kerala and Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes
EARLY-ONSET TYPE 2 DIABETES:
Type 2 diabetes is actually a lifestyle disease. Earlier this type of diabetes was found in people at the age of 50-55. But in recent years, that is, in the last 15 to 20 years it has been noticed that type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in people at an earlier age. In a study that was conducted at our hospital in around 25000 patients to find out at what age they got diabetes, it was found that around 42 percent of these patients became diabetic before the age of 45.
At present, studies all over Kerala show that around 50percent of diabetes patients got diabetes before 45. This type of diabetes that comes early is categorized as a special section in type 2 diabetes. It is called Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes. Normally, before 45 is the time when we work hard,and are most active. Becoming a patient at this age
will definitely affect their lives in a negative way. The productivity of persons as well as the society will go down. There are many other factors related to this. One such thing is that people who become diabetic patients at a young age of 35-40 do not have much control over their disease. That means they don’t give much importance to
treating diabetes properly as they don’t have other health issues. This happens also because of their mental stress due to job or other issues in life. As the treatment is not done properly, the diabetes in such younger patients will not be under control too.
But at the same time, if we take the case of patients who are comparatively older, we can see that they have the time for treatment and also have more knowledge about it. So the diabetes in them is comparatively under control. Another factor related to Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes is that if it is not controlled properly, it will lead to much complications. Yes of course,complications are normal in diabetes treatment, but in the case of younger patients,the risks are more. When a person gets diabetes at the age of 30, he will have to live with it for the next 40-45 years. In such a case, treatment expenses will be more. This has another important positive side too. That is, if diabetes is diagnosed in the early stage itself, it can be controlled very well with systematic lifestyle. Or the medicine can be postponed too.
The main reason for Early-onset Type2 Diabetes is not having control on lifestyles. So, if we get diabetes at a younger age, we can control our lifestyle and thus avoid complications. This is the importance of diagnosing Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes at the right time. If you ask me what is the most important health problem in Kerala now, my answer will be Early-onset Type 2 Diabetes.