The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : India may have 80 million diabetic patients by 2030

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

India may have 80 million diabetic patients by 2030

By Our Special Correspondent

S.S. Badrinath, chairman of Sankara Nethralaya (right), in discussion with V. Mohan, chairman of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, at a function organised by the Palkhivala Foundation in Chennai on Sunday. Looking on is Arvind P. Dattar, director of the foundation. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI, OCT. 10. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has concluded that India, which has the largest number of diabetic patients (32 million in 2000), is expected to have nearly 80 million patients by 2030, according to V. Mohan, chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation.

Hastening to add that the WHO was not an alarmist but a ``conservative organisation,'' Dr. Mohan, delivering the sixth memorial lecture of the Palkhivala Foundation here, said the rise meant that in about 30 years, India would have more than 20 per cent of the diabetic population in the world.

At present, China and the United States had the second and third highest population of diabetic patients. Though all countries, including sub-Saharan African nations, were projected to have more number of diabetic patients by 2030 with the increase in life expectancy, the greatest challenge lay in India where the rise came close to three times the present number while the U.S. and China would see their population of diabetic patients going up two times.

Dr. Mohan, also heading the M.V. Diabetes Specialties Centre, said the recent Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study conducted by the Diabetes Research Foundation, covering a representative sample of 26,001 patients in the city, revealed that 16 per cent had diabetes.

Besides the changing lifestyle, a high-level of mental stress, heavy intake of diet rich in fat, sugar and calories and the genetic factor were the causes of the disease. ``While hereditary factors are beyond one's control, lifestyle modifications can definitely help in lowering diabetes.''

There were three kinds of prevention of diabetes. The primary kind referred to the prevention of the disorder before it developed.

While the secondary kind pertained to prevention of complications in those who were already having the disorder, tertiary prevention aimed at limiting physical disability, he said.

Dr. Mohan said his organisation along with the Chennai Willingdon Corporation Foundation undertook a prevention awareness campaign for diabetes with a plan of covering one million population.

S.S. Badrinath, chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, called Nani Palkhivala (in whose memory the lecture series is held), a ``true nationalist'' and ``towering intellectual.''

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