All is not well for people with diabetes in urban India: Abbott Study

Abbott’s Food, Spikes and Diabetes Survey, an eight-city study also reveals that seven out of 10 people with diabetes have an imbalanced meal plate, heavy in carbohydrates

Abbott Food, Spikes and Diabetes survey findings highlight that seven out 10 people with diabetes in urban India seem to be paying little attention to what and how much they eat.

Abbott commissioned Ipsos India, a market research agency, to reach out to over 4,100 people with diabetes (Type 2, diagnosed for over eighteen months) between the ages of 36 – 65 years, across socio-economic classes. The objective was to gain insights on what they eat, the meal plate’s role on blood sugar variability and impact on overall diabetes management.

Through in-depth interviews, respondents shared details of their diet, monitoring and exercise. The frequency of meals and the quantity was measured through customised bowls, glasses, which was then converted to grams and calories.

Key findings of the study are as follows

– 62 per cent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese with a BMI reading in excess of 22.9 (the normal cut-off for Indians). 46 per cent of people with diabetes are classified as obese. Men had an average BMI value of 24.1, which is classified as overweight and women had an average BMI of 25.3, indicating obesity.

– 55 per cent were diagnosed below age 45 years and a substantial number (17 per cent) were diagnosed at an age less than 35 years.

– 65 per cent have uncontrolled blood sugar levels, with their last blood sugar readings out of the target range, for fasting or post-prandial (post meal). Blood sugars are also seen to be impacted by the kind of food that is eaten and the intervals at which it is consumed.

– 62 per cent suffer from other medical conditions. Hypertension (40 per cent) comes out as the most common co-morbidity. Almost 70 per cent of respondents having diabetes for more than five years reported one or more co-morbidity. Eye disorders (retinopathy) and nerve disorders (neuropathy) are relatively high in this group.

– Monitoring apathy: While the recommended manner to monitor blood sugar is to do fasting and two-hour post-meal tests, close to 40 per cent of respondents prefer to do only one test and this is usually fasting.

The average interval between meal and post-meal testing is 58 minutes, against the recommended time interval of two hours.

Dr V Mohan, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai says, “Testing of both fasting and post-meal blood sugars are important because the fasting blood sugar tells us about the liver’s glucose production, while the post-meal blood sugar tells us about the glucose disposal. Controlling both of these is therefore important. However, the post–meal is even more important because the post- meal blood sugars have been linked to cardiovascular disease in many studies.”

“Unlike in the West, where fasting blood glucose is important, in India post-meal blood glucose is more important due to higher glycaemic load in the Indian diet,” says Prof Shashank Joshi, President of Indian Academy of Diabetes and Senior Endocrinologist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.

– Typical diets of people with diabetes: Seven out of 10 respondents are eating meals that are imbalanced in carbohydrates. The average meal plate for all respondents comprises 68 per cent carbohydrates, significantly higher than the recommended guideline of 60 per cent carbohydrates.

While the average calories consumed per day (men – 2,534 Kcal and women – 2,634 Kcal) are generally in line with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) recommendation for sedentary to moderate activity, the source of the calories is a concern. Most of the calories come from simple carbohydrates that are low in fibre.

“The STARCH study that we published last year shows that India is a carbohydrate country across the regions. Indians consume both simple and complex carbohydrates. The current Food, Spike and Diabetes Survey confirms the findings of the STARCH study where cereals, roti and rice are the primary source of carbohydrates in the Indian meal plate,” says Prof Joshi.

Roti and rice are two main sources of carbohydrates in the Indian meal plate. Upma, observed to be a popular breakfast item particularly in South India, is seen to add the maximum amount of calories, compared to other regular breakfast items.

Dr Mohan says “In our epidemiological studies, we find that polished white rice comprises 48 per cent of all the calories consumed by people in Chennai and this is one of the drivers of the diabetes epidemic. Controlling carbohydrate is extremely important because excess carbohydrate can lead to post-meal spikes of blood glucose. Since Indians eat carbs with every meal they get huge post-meal surge in blood glucose which abnormally increases the insulin secretion. Gradually the insulin levels dry up due to beta cell exhaustion and severe diabetes sets in.”

– How people with diabetes eat: 80 per cent of the respondents eat three to four meals per day. The gap between meals ranges from 4.5 to seven hours.

The survey also showed that the first meal of the day, the breakfast, occurs after a substantial time after waking up. The average time gap between waking up and breakfast is three and half hours.

“The biggest challenge for a patient with diabetes is the huge variation in the time interval between meals. Typically, Indians have a three to four hour gap between wake-up time and breakfast, which is detrimental for these patients. Therefore, they should have a shorter time gap with breakfast comprising whole grains or balanced meal replacements with diabetes-specific nutrition powders,” says Prof Joshi.

Dr Mohan says, “It is essential to have the breakfast quite early as having a long gap after the dinner can lead to triggering of the counter regulatory hormones. For a person with diabetes, it is always better to have a small frequent feeds rather than having infrequent large meals.”

– Festive feasting and fasting: Indians take festive occasions seriously and people with diabetes also seem to follow the trend – 30 per cent of surveyed respondents claimed to go easy on their diet during festive occasions. Sweets, rice, potatoes and ice creams rank as the top items that people with diabetes have during festivals. These additional carbohydrate-rich foods, over and above a regular diet that is already laden with carbs, indicate how difficult it is for Indians suffering with diabetes to manage diet properly.

On the other extreme are those respondents who observe fasts. 10 per cent of the survey respondents stated that they observe fasts, mostly once a week. Thrice as many women reported to observe fasts as compared to men. 45 per cent of those who fast skip diabetes medications during fasting and 54 per cent of those who fast eat only one meal that day.

“Indians also fast and feast which is leading to spikes and variances in glucose levels,” comments Prof Joshi.

– Exercise: Only 40 per cent of the surveyed respondents claim to do any form of exercise. Walking seems to be the most popular, with 93 per cent saying that they walk regularly.

“Diabetes is one of the major conditions affecting people’s health and lifestyle in India. Through its continuum of care approach, Abbott in partnership with various stakeholders is seeking to advance understanding and drive greater awareness around effective diabetes management. Greater insights on people’s behaviour are needed to effectively manage the condition. Insights from this study will allow people to Take Back Control of their diabetes, helping them live a full life,” says Bhasker Iyer, VP, Abbott.