Osmania Medical College Doctors Forum has stated that every sixth person in Hyderabad is diabetic. Several factors like lack of awareness, unavailability of sufficient health clubs and improper lifestyles are leading to the increasing incidence of diabetes in the city. A sedentary life usually leads to accumulation of fat, which is the main cause of diabetes. The forum fears that Hyderabad is becoming the diabetic capital of the country.
India has the world's largest diabetic population with an estimated 35 million affected people. If it is not properly checked, the number is likely to reach 73 million by 2025. The forum appealed to the government to allocate separate budget for diabetes treatment and care including prevention. This will boost the screening and diagnosis of diabetes as well as its treatment.
The forum has planned a series of workshops on diabetes and its care for dieticians, patients and their family members and health professionals during February 2004. The screening camp for diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy) is to be held on November 14th at Osmania Medical College, with the theme 'Diabetes and Kidney Complication', on the eve of 13th World Diabetes Day. International Diabetes Federation and Fresenius Kabi India are also extending its support for organizing this camp.