101 million adults suffer from diabetes, 136 million pre-diabetic in India : Dr Amit Garg

101 million adults suffer from diabetes, 136 million pre-diabetic in India : Dr Amit Garg

Chandigarh 30 July ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Dr Amit Garg, Associate Director – Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery, and Dr Neeraj Garg, Senior Consultant – Endocrinology from PARK Hospital Mohali during a press conference on Thursday highlighted the role of metabolic surgery in achieving long-term diabetes remission. PARK Hospitals is one of North India's largest super-specialty hospital networks, with 18 hospitals, over 4,160 beds, 900 ICU beds, 14 Cath Labs, 45 modular operation theatres and more than 1,200 doctors.

Dr Amit Garg said, “India is witnessing an unprecedented rise in type 2 diabetes, making it one of the country's biggest public health challenges. According to current estimates, more than 101 million Indians are living with diabetes, while another 136 million are pre-diabetic. Diabetes accounts for lakhs of hospital admissions every year and is among the leading causes of premature death and disability.” Dr Neeraj Garg emphasized that more than one in four Indian adults is either diabetic or pre-diabetic. Explaining the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes, Dr Garg further said the disease significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure requiring dialysis, diabetic retinopathy leading to blindness, nerve damage, diabetic foot ulcers, amputations, fatty liver disease, erectile dysfunction, recurrent infections, poor wound healing and reduced life expectancy. 

Metabolic surgery has emerged as one of the most effective evidence-based treatment options for eligible patients with Type 2 diabetes, said Dr Garg. Unlike conventional treatment that focuses on controlling blood sugar, metabolic surgery addresses the underlying hormonal and metabolic abnormalities, offering long-term diabetes remission, improved quality of life and protection against serious diabetes-related complications, he explained

Emphasizing the importance of early intervention, Dr Garg said that patients with a shorter duration of diabetes and preserved pancreatic function have the highest chances of achieving long-term diabetes remission. Ashish Chadha, Group CEO – North, PARK Hospitals, said that the hospital is empanelled with CAPF, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal governments, major TPAs, corporate organizations and insurance providers.