Diabetes As An Epidemic: A Sociological Study on Awareness, Management and Lifestyle Modification among Young Female Learner of Hooghly District

Dr. Soumita Dutta

Abstract: Diabetes is a health condition where the body either doesn?t produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is the hormone that helps control blood sugar (glucose). When insulin doesn?t work properly, blood sugar becomes too high, which affects different parts of the body over time. If not controlled, high blood sugar can affect many organs and cause problems like heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, blurred vision, cataracts, retinopathy, neuropathy, infections etc. Factors like urbanization, easy access to fast food, sedentary lifestyle, high stress level, low-activity routine contribute towards the rise of diabetes in modern society. Additionally, genetic predisposition and hormonal disorders increase the risk, making diabetes a growing health concern today. In 2021 as per WHO records, about 537 million adults globally (aged 20?79) were living with diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed). A large fraction of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed, or inadequately managed (lack of access to medicines, monitoring tools, preventive care) - especially in low- and middle-income countries. Awareness matters not only at the level of individuals (knowing risk factors, symptoms, and the need for check-ups) but also at the societal / policy level- so that governments, communities, and health systems can ensure access to care, affordable medicines, and prevention programs. This paper would try to learn about individual awareness level among young female learns of Hooghly district and emphasises on the urgent need for early diagnosis, regular screening- monitoring, dietary habit analysis, balanced diets, and lifestyle modification. How far these individuals perceive themselves to be important in strengthening public health initiatives, awareness program and improving access to healthcare to combat this silent yet deadly epidemic. How far these young students can structurally help the process of community based education and dispel common myths or misconceptions regarding diseases like PCOs or Diabetes is crucial and need of the hour

Keywords: Diabetes, silent killer, public health, epidemic, dietary habits, balanced diet