Karnataka

Controlling diabetes essential: H.S. Ballal

Manipal: Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University H.S. Ballal said on Friday that diabetic patients should give priority to controlling diabetes whether it was mild, moderate or severe.

Prof. Ballal was presiding over the inaugural function of the week-long diabetic screening camp organised by Kasturba Hospital as part of the World Diabetes Day here.

He said India had 41 million people with diabetes. This number was expected to rise to 70 million by 2025. One out of every five persons suffering from diabetes would be an Indian by 2025.

The prevalence of diabetes had increased rapidly throughout the world. In 30 years, the status of diabetes had changed from being considered a mild disorder of the elderly to being one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality affecting the youth and the middle aged. About 230 million people in the world suffered from diabetes.

In his inaugural speech, 88-year-old R.S. Kini, who had been a diabetic for 41 years, said that exercise, having meals on time, regular medical check-up and being prompt in taking medicines were necessary to control diabetes.

Head of the Department of Medicine at Kasturba Hospital R. Balasubramanian welcomed the gathering.

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