Uncontrolled blood sugar levels found in 35% of people tested for diabetes in Delhi NCR: Study

New Delhi: As part of its diabetes screening initiative, BeatO has found that over 35 per cent of the people who were tested at free diabetes screening camps in the Delhi-NCR region had uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
The digital diabetes care platform revealed that in the past, 84 per cent of those who took the test at BeatO camps didn't know their diabetes status, and out of these, one third were found to have uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

The company said in its press statement that it has been conducting free-of-cost diabetes camps across the national capital in areas like Pitampura, Rohini, Lawrence Road, and Noida, among many others, and has tested more than 20,000 people through these camps since March 2023.

According to the post-analytic data, 45 per cent of women of age 46 & above were found with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, and 43 per cent of men of age 46 and above were found with uncontrolled levels as well, pointing to hyperglycemia in the majority. Undetected high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, that lasts, even if it's not severe, can lead to health problems that affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.

The staggering numbers, as per the company, bring to light an eye-opening condition of undetected diabetes and a lack of awareness among people about their blood sugar levels in Delhi NCR. A random blood sugar test of more than 200 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes. Of all the people tested (at random) who had uncontrolled sugar levels of 160 mg/dL, 80 per cent belonged to the age group of 36 and above, and 20 per cent of the people who were below the age of 36 had uncontrolled readings.

Emphasising that BeatO strongly believes that diabetes care and management are a consequence of adequate awareness and timely detection, Gautam Chopra, the CEO and Founder, BeatO, said, "Delhi is a mirror of the nation at large. Pre-diabetes has emerged as a colossal problem, especially among the youth. Being an asymptomatic condition, it is necessary to go the extra mile to identify individuals with prediabetes. Early screening and timely detection of prediabetes are becoming increasingly important to fight this condition."

BeatO claims that its certified diabetes educators are present at these camps to give on-the-spot counselling to those who are unprepared or distressed by their test results and have questions that need to be addressed. The educator's aim is to provide proper guidance and counsel people on how to take the right steps to control their sugar levels and avoid diabetes and its related complications. Diet, exercise, and lifestyle counselling are also provided at these camps.

The high incidence of diabetes and the growing risk can be largely attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle. Dr Navneet Agrawal, the Chief Clinical Officer at BeatO, said, "Moreover, Delhi has undergone rapid urbanisation in recent years, leading to lifestyle pattern changes. This has contributed to a higher prevalence of diabetes. A high intake of junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed foods, coupled with a desk-bound sedentary lifestyle leading to little or no physical activity, is a major reason for skyrocketing cases of diabetes in Delhi."

Even people who were aware of their diabetes status displayed high or out-of-control readings, with nearly half the pre-diabetics having out-of-range readings. Over 60 per cent of people who already knew that they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes had out-of-range readings, showing that proper adherence to keep sugar levels in check is not being followed by them.