The Hindu 16.11.2009
Diabetes a major health hazard for Indians
Staff Reporter
Kakinada: Diabetes has become a major health hazard in India and also throughout the world due to the burgeoning population, aging, urbanisation and increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. It causes blindness, end-stage renal disease, increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular diseases, neuropathy and leads to lower extremity amputation.
Better education, improved nutrition, regular exercise, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the only ways to curb the menace, experts opined in Andhra Pradesh Diabetes Federation (APDF)’s 18th annual scientific meet held here on Sunday.
The presence of nearly 19 percent of the world’s diabetic population (33 million) in India and an estimate that the number will rise to an alarming 80 million by 2030 are the ground realities to be reckoned with by the medical fraternity and people in the high risk categories.
Diabetes is also causing a huge number of cardiovascular diseases and some 50,000 diabetic foot amputations are taking place in India every year.
Major task
Stress is also one of the causative factors. These are all grim reminders of the magnanimity of the task on hand.
This was the summary of the deliberations of doctors from all over India and some from abroad in the conference on Sunday and they exchanged their views on what treatment protocols have to be adopted in tune with the changing manifestations of the disease, APDF President Dr. Venkataratnam Vakkalanka told The Hindu.
In the scientific program on Sunday, Dr. Jyotsna from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences gave a presentation on ‘Diabetes and heart disease in women’, Dr. Shashank Joshi delivered Prof. M Viswanathan Gold Medal Oration.
Interactive session
Dr. Usha Sriram gave a presentation on ‘Incretin-based therapies in Type 2 diabetes management’ and Dr. Ramachandran on ‘Challenges in treatment of hyperglycemia’. The presentations were followed by a ‘Meet the Experts’ session wherein diabetics and people in general got themselves acquainted with the facts about the condition.
Conference organising secretary Rama Swaroop Jawahar and others were present.
