Date:15/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021523180400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government likely to set up diabetes institute next year

Staff Reporter

`Bangalore has the highest incidence of diabetes in the country'

ALL SMILES: Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya (centre), former Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS Chandrashekar Shetty (left) and WHO Coordinatior Serge Resnikoff at a programme on `Diabetic retinopathy and Squint' in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: Bangalore has the highest incidence of diabetes in the country and the Government is toying with the idea of setting up a diabetes institute, Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the Continuing Medical Education programme on "Diabetic Retinopathy and Squint" here on Wednesday, he said, "It is still in the discussion stage. In all probability, the institute may be established next year," Dr. Acharya said.

Speaking on the prevention of diabetic retinopathy, Serge Resnikoff, coordinator of the World Health Organisation, said while diabetes could result in blindness, it could be prevented in 90 per cent of cases by proper management.

He said diabetic retinopathy was usually induced due to diabetic mellitus, which was determined by genetic background and risk factors. "People underestimate the risk factors. In 2005, 35 million people died of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory and cancer. What people do not realise is that diabetes is responsible for a large percentage of deaths caused due to cardiovascular and renal failure," Dr. Resnikoff said.

With incidence of diabetes increasing all the time, it had huge economic implications for the "low and middle income countries". One-third of diabetics had some degree retinopathy and a third of those patients had sight-threatening retinopathy. "Early detection with timely laser treatment of sight threatening retinopathy is important. One of the prerequisites is a well-established, high quality management of the disease. For this, collaboration between ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, general practitioners and patients is crucial," he said.

Dr. Resnikoff said there were solutions to tackle the increasing incidence of the disease. The WHO had brought out guidelines for the same in 2005, which included principles in eye care, organisational aspects and step-wise approach for core interventions.

The CME was organised by Minto Ophthalmic Hospital; Department of Ophthalmology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute; and Common Wealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities, under the aegis of Karnataka Ophthalmologic Society.

R. Rajeshwari, Director and Dean, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, welcomed the gathering.

Diwakar, president of Karnataka Ophthalmological Society, proposed a vote of thanks.