: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, a nationally renowned diabetologist, and a Union Minister said that every third Indian has fatty liver disease, a condition that often precedes Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Speaking at the launch of the Indo-French Liver and Metabolic Disease Network (InFLiMeN) at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in New Delhi, Dr Singh emphasized the urgent need for preventive and curative measures for metabolic liver diseases.
The Indo-French Node, InFLiMeN, aims to address key issues related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common metabolic liver disorder that can progress to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. “NAFLD predates diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and many other conditions. As an endocrinologist, I understand the complexities of fatty liver and its relation to diabetes and other metabolic disorders,” Dr.
Singh stated. Dr. Singh, who holds multiple key positions including Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, highlighted the significant rise in NAFLD in both the Indian subcontinent and Europe, attributing it to lifestyle changes, diet, and metabolic syndromes such as diabetes and obesity.
He noted that nearly one in three Indians has fatty liver, and unlike in the West where NAFLD is mostly associated with obesity, about 20% of NAFLD cases in India occur in non-obese individuals. The Minister underscored the importance of this initiative by pointing out the considerable burden.