1 million people will die due to diabetes in India: IDF
Over 10 lakh people in India will die due to diabetes and its complications by the end of this calendar year, an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report has stated.
Over 10 lakh people in India will die due to diabetes and its complications by the end of this calendar year, an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report has stated.
In a statement issued on the World Diabetes Day, IDF president Jean Claude Mbanya said that a recent IDF report has suggested India has 6.13 crore people living with diabetes, second only to China. "Moreover, nearly 60% of diabetics in India have never been screened or diagnosed due to lack of awareness. A recent IDF survey shows that a staggering 62.6% of the people in India are not even aware about the complications of the disease."
"The lack of awareness is something we all need to tackle with a strong will. Diabetes is preventable and diabetics can effectively manage their condition to live better lives without burdening their families and society at large. Over 10 lakh people in India will die from diabetes and its complications by the end of this calendar year."
Stating that diabetes often strikes those under 60 years of age and in their most productive years, Mbanya said, "Such a high numbers of undiagnosed cases means people are putting their lives at risk from diabetes complications such as nerve disease, which can lead to ulceration and amputation of limbs."
This spread of awareness will empower them to defeat diabetes through prevention and management, he added.
"A number of activities have been rolled out as part of the Sanofi Diabetes Blue Fortnight 2012 campaign, to effectively engage the masses in India. These include Doctor for Diabetes Care (D4DC) initiative, an opportunity for doctors and healthcare experts to join and support India's largest ever diabetes awareness drive by pledging to help reduce India's diabetes burden, educate and motivate diabetes patients and their family members to opt for regular blood sugar screening," he said.
"Besides, free screening camps for checking blood sugar were conducted in several cities including Jalandhar. The walk for diabetes and flash mobs that reached out to the masses and mobilised people at the grass-root level to wear blue, gather in groups and walk in their localities to spread awareness about diabetes are also being conducted so as to spread importance of screening, preventive measures and to share information on how to live with diabetes by implementing better management methods," he said.