[ Pooja Singnale ]

Diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, is emerging as one of the major public health challenges of our time. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of people living with diabetes increased from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022, while the prevalence among adults aged 18 years and above rose from 7% to 14% during the same period.

At the same time, obesity has reached unprecedented levels: in 2022, 2.5 billion adults worldwide were overweight, including 890 million living with obesity, and approximately 16% of adults were obese.

The growing prevalence of overweight and obesity is closely linked with the increasing burden of Type 2 diabetes, largely through a metabolic condition known as insulin resistance.

Excess body fat, particularly abdominal fat, can interfere with the normal action of insulin, reducing the body's ability to regulate blood glucose effectively. Over time, persistent insulin resistance may place greater demands on the pancreas and contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes.

From a nutrition perspective, the changing dietary environment is an important part of this concern. Increased consumption of highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods, combined with inadequate intake of fibre-rich foods such as whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits, may promote excessive energy intake and unhealthy weight gain.

These dietary patterns, together with physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, can adversely affect metabolic health. However, diabetes risk is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, age, family history and other lifestyle factors, and body weight alone does not determine an individual's risk.

Prevention therefore requires a nutrition-centred and lifestyle-based approach. Choosing a diverse, balanced diet rich in whole grains, pulses, vegetables, fruits, nuts and other minimally processed foods, while limiting excess sugar, highly processed foods and unhealthy fats, can support healthy body weight and metabolic health.

Regular physical activity and early identification of metabolic risk are equally important. Addressing obesity and insulin resistance through improved nutrition and healthier lifestyles can play a significant role in preventing or delaying Type 2 diabetes and reducing its long-term health burden. (The writer is a subject matter specialist in home science, Anjaw KVK)