Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and Its Signs and Symptoms Among the Meiteis of Manipur, India

The rate of prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) increases globally and the greatest rise over the years is observed in India. T2D is the most frequent type of diabetes, increasing susceptibility to different diseases. The present study tries to find out the overall prevalence and identify the sign and symptoms of diabetes among the Meiteis of Manipur. Fasting blood glucose level was randomly collected from 1026 participants (men: 517 and women: 509) using a glucometer from five valley districts of Manipur. An interview schedule consisting of personal information and data on signs and symptoms of diabetes was collected from the participant with prior informed consent. The present study shows that 34.40% has impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and the overall prevalence of T2D is 12.96%, indicating that one out of every ten Meitei individuals is affected by the disease. The prevalence of T2D is higher with an increase in chronological age. The presence of signs and symptoms of T2D was significantly higher among the diabetic patients than the normal individuals. Owing to a lack of awareness and knowledge, the incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes is higher than self-reported. Therefore, as a preventive measure, there is an urgent need for timely intervention through awareness and imparting knowledge about diabetes education among the people.