An increasing number of diabetic patients in Bangladesh face difficulty keeping it under control, despite many measures to enhance access to treatment and raise knowledge of diabetes.
As of 2021, some 8.4 million people aged between 20 and 79 were reported to have diabetes, making it a significant public health problem.
The International Diabetes Federation reports that the prevalence of diabetes was 8.4% in Bangladesh in 2019, compared to the 6.5% global prevalence.
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In Bangladesh, diabetes is one of the main causes of mortality and is linked to many other health issues, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and blindness.
Due to dietary and lifestyle changes, urbanization, and aging populations, the prevalence of diabetes has quickly grown in recent years, experts say.
Healthy lifestyle behaviors, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, are essential for managing diabetes and reducing the risk of complications. These simple changes can significantly impact diabetes control and quality of life for individuals living with this chronic condition.
More prevalent in urban areas
Diabetes is more prevalent in the cities, where the prevalence rate is 11.4%, than in the country's rural parts, where it is 5.7%, according to a study by BMC Public Health.
The commonness of harmful lifestyle habits, such as little to no activity and a poor diet, is a contributing cause. This can aggravate diabetes and raise the risk of complications.
As a result of urbanization, people live sedentary lives and eat more processed meals, which are heavy in calories, fat and sugar. Additionally, managing diabetes can be impacted by anxiety and social isolation.
Incorrect treatment
In Bangladesh, many people with diabetes are not correctly identified or treated, which could result in ineffective blood sugar management and a higher risk of complications.
Some 61.2% of individuals with diabetes were unaware of their disease, and only 38.8% of those who were aware took treatment, according to a study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Also, it may be challenging for individuals to adequately manage their illness due to a lack of qualified healthcare professionals and restricted access to diabetes education and support programs.
It is especially in rural regions that many diabetes patients go undiagnosed and do not get proper care or information about how to manage their condition. Just 11% of Bangladeshi people with diabetes have received any formal diabetes education, according to research the findings of which were published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.
How to control?
A thorough strategy for diabetes care in Bangladesh is necessary to tackle these issues, experts say. A few such strategies are expanding the accessibility of diabetes education, support services, and inexpensive medicine, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and addressing societal factors that influence poor diabetes control.
Dr Elora Sharmin, associate professor at the Department of Pharmacology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), emphasized the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors and dietary changes to manage and prevent diabetes effectively.
“Exercise is a crucial component of diabetes management. Even moderate physical activity, such as 30 minutes of walking five days a week, can make a significant difference in blood sugar control,” she added.
She prioritized full, and nutrient-dense meals, which may include foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats that are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber and other vital elements.
“The key to managing diabetes through diet is to ensure that carbohydrate intake is balanced and proportionate, rather than eliminating carbohydrates entirely. Properly balanced carbohydrates can help to provide energy and support healthy blood sugar levels,” she added.