Census to track no. of diabetics across India

 

Mumbai:Years after India had already earned the dubious distinction of being the diabetes capital of the world, the Centre seems to have finally woken up to one the most serious health hazards. On Friday, Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced that the government would initiate a diabetes census across the country to gauge the enormity of the epidemic.
    By the end of this year or early next year, the census—probably the first of its kind in the world—is likely to start. Azad is also presenting the idea of the census at the five-day WHO’s Health Assembly commencing in Geneva, Switzerland from May 17.
    “We intend to start mandatory testing for diabetes in the age-group of 25-70 years across the country in the next two years,’’ Azad said.
    “The idea is to figure out the actual number of people who are suffering from diabetes, or are likely to suffer,’’ said Azad, on the sidelines of the inauguration of a mega health camp at Malad.
    Azad added that soon, the Centre will ask for help from all state governments to pull off the mammoth initiative. “We will study all three categories of diabetes and decide on the next course of action accordingly,’’ he said. “For those who will be on the borderline, state governments will help to bring about behavioural changes, like changes in food habits and exercise,’’ he said.
    It is believed that Asian countries carry about 60% of the global diabetes burden. The diabetes census will start from cities and will trickle down to villages. “In certain villages, where ambulances cannot reach, we will take the help of Glucometers (device for determining glucose in blood),’’ said Azad.
    “Glucometers will cost the government an additional Rs 100 crore as per patient, the cost will come up to Rs 100. This includes the cost of involving a doctor and sending him to villages,’’ Azad explained.
    The Union minister said that defeating diabetes would mean defeating the plethora of ailments that come with it. “And, that includes the economic burden on families and the state,’’ he said.
    City doctors feel there could not have been a better time to come up with the census as diabetes has already become a serious health problem in the country. Founder and president of Diabetic Foot Association of India Dr Arun Bal said there was no proper epidemiological data to establish the enormity of diabetes in India so far. “The data available is mostly from small centres, so data from across the country will be of great significance,’’ he said.
    Bal added that it was all the more important as India has about 40 million people who have Impaired Glucose Tolerance, meaning they are on the verge of becoming full-blown diabetics. “If we can detect it early and help people prevent it, several social and economic problems can be tackled,’’ he said.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
More than 60% of the total diabetes burden of the world is from Asia It is estimated that India at present has 50.9 million diabetics and this is set to rise to 87 million by 2030 That would mean about 8.4% of the country’s adult population will be diabetic by 2030 About 7.8% of world’s diabetics are believed to be from India
According to International Diabetes Federation, about 10 lakh deaths can be attributed to diabetes in India annually
Annual health expenditure per person with diabetes is Rs 3,000 on an average
About 40 million have Impaired Glucose Tolerance in India