Opinion | Asia can benefit from tackling type 2 diabetes with surgical interventions. Here’s how

The world is more interconnected than ever. While this has driven significant economic growth, an unintended side effect has surfaced – non-communicable diseases that have traditionally been more prevalent in the West have spread all over the planet and now present some of the greatest health challenges of our time.

In Asia – where an estimated 60 per cent of diabetics live – the incidence of chronic diseases has grown at an alarming pace. So grave is the problem that the region is now commonly referred to as the epicentre of diabetes.

An increased focus on treating conditions such as diabetes through pharmacology and lifestyle changes has not yielded improved outcomes, and the disease remains a key problem. Asia has also experienced significant mortality and disability rates in recent years; over half of all deaths in Southeast Asia are due to non-communicable diseases, and one-third of those are people younger than 70.

With preventive approaches returning poor results, public health experts are now displaying a greater acceptance of metabolic surgery as a treatment option. In 2019, over 5,400 metabolic procedures were performed exclusively for type 2 diabetes in India, to excellent outcomes. A patient I operated on averted blindness because of a complete resolution of retinopathy after metabolic surgery.

While more can be done to improve accessibility for patients, we are now in a better position to change the treatment landscape for diabetes in Asia.

WORSENING EPIDEMIC

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 463 million adults live with diabetes globally today, a number that is expected to skyrocket to 700 million by 2045 if the world continues on its current path.