Diabetes Rampant In Bangalore

Wed, 24 Aug 2011

Nearly 14 per cent of all people in Bangalore suffer from diabetes, according to a recent health ministry-supported study carried out in Bangalore and Chennai as a part of a pilot programme on non-communicable diseases .

The research found that around 14 per cent of Bangalore’s population is suffering from diabetes and 21 per cent have high blood pressure (hypertension). It also revealed that 3 per cent of pregnant women in the city are diabetic .

In Chennai, 50,000 out of 300,000 lakh persons tested were found to be diabetic, 60,000 hypertensive and 40,000 prone to both conditions.

The study was conduced as part of nationwide programme launched in July 2010 for the prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. The Rs 1,231-crore initiative covers 100 selected districts in 21 states.

Speaking at a national summit on non-communicable diseases, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "A comprehensive programme will now be rolled out in the 12th plan covering all the 604 districts. The programme will focus on health promotion, prevention of exposure to risk factors, early diagnosis, treatment of common diseases and rehabilitation services."

India currently has a diabetes population of around 50 million, which is expected to rise to 80 million (or 8.4% of the country's adult population) by 2030.

Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases cause 53 per cent of deaths in India. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this figure which is also expected increase to 60 per cent by 2015.

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