Over 90% young diabetics facing matrimonial problems

 NEW DELHI: The increasing incidence of diseases such as Type I diabetes is leading to a variety of social problems including difficulty among young patients in getting married and continuation of their marriage. Of such patients, less than 10 per cent are happily married while an astounding 90 per cent plus face matrimonial problems, a survey by the Delhi Diabetes Research Centre (DDRC) here has revealed.

"A large number of Type I diabetes patients are unable to get suitable match because people do not know what the disease is all about and whether such a person would be able to produce a healthy and normal child," said DDRC chairman A.K. Jhingan. Having conducted the survey on his patients through a questionnaire and interviews, Dr. Jhingan said it has been revealed that a large number of Type I diabetics face matrimonial problems as diabetes is still considered a `social stigma'. The problem, he insisted, is more severe with female Type I diabetics. "First, no one comes forward to marry them and even if they get married they face problems, which invariably lead to confrontation, separation and divorce and severe psychiatric disorders with suicidal risks," he said. As for the males, most of the patients do not disclose their disease to their prospective spouse before marriage.

Stating that the social implications of diabetes in the Indian sub-continent need special attention as millions of people in this region are affected by it, Dr. Jhingan said this issue can only be addressed through a mass movement or campaign for creating awareness about the same and dispelling wrong and unfounded notions and belief which complicate matters.

The survey, he said, has also revealed some very unique aspects about the social problems associated with the disease. Of the patients surveyed in the 19 to 31 year age-group, only 40 per cent were married. And of the married diabetic women nearly 50 per cent were sent back to their parental house within a period of six months to one year. Nearly 25 per cent of the women who got married lost interest in self-care and monitoring of the disease after being denied funds for treatment by their in-laws, and consequently died due to related complications.