Sunday 20 March 2016

The increasing incidence of diabetes in India is a major public health concern

The increasing incidence of diabetes in India is a major public health concern New Delhi, March 19, 2016: According to recent estimates, approximately 285 million people worldwide (6.6%) in the 20–79 year age group had diabetes in 2010 and by 2030, 438 million people (7.8%) of the adult population, is expected to have diabetes. Twenty years after the onset of diabetes, nearly all patients with type I diabetes (insulin-dependent) and more than 60% of those with type II diabetes (non-insulin dependent) will have some degree of blindness. However, this also depends on the degree of metabolic control of diabetes. Diabetes is the most common non- communicable disease, which leads to multisystem disorder, including cardiovascular disease, renal failure, peripheral neuropathy, and blindness. Diabetes slowly damages the whole body system from head to toe. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have produced advancement on the social and economic front in developing countries such as India, which have resulted in dramatic lifestyle changes leading to lifestyle, related diseases. Delhi Medical Association is committed to create awareness among the general public about diabetes blindness prevention and will launch a pilot project “IMA National Prevention of Diabetic Blindness Program” on Sunday, 20th March 2016 at IMA House, ITO, New Delhi. “Under this project, a special Mass Diabetes Screening Program will be organized in Delhi with the help of local branches of the IMA from 25th March to 4th April 2016. Post which the data from the screening program will be compiled and a detailed report released on the occasion of World Health Day on April 7”, said Dr K K Aggarwal Honorary Secretary General IMA and Dr Ajay Lekhi President Delhi Medical Association. Taking reference of the pilot project in Delhi, all IMA’s 1698 branches in India have also been asked to conduct similar screening camps and compile the data.

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