The United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark resolution on December 20, 2006 recognizing diabetes as a chronic and debilitating disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks for families, countries and to the entire world. The General Assembly thus designated November 14, the World Diabetes Day, to be observed every year. Governments across the world have acknowledged that diabetes is increasing at epidemic rates and is affecting all countries. For the first time, a non-infectious disease has been seen as posing as serious a global health threat as infectious epidemics such as HIV/AIDS. Today diabetes has affected as many as 250 million people or roughly 6 per cent of the world's adult population. With India having the highest number of diabetic patients in the world, the country is already being dubbed as the diabetes capital of the world. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the number of diabetic patients in India more than doubled from 19 million in 1995 to 40.9 million in 2007. It is projected to increase to 69.9 million by 2025. Currently, up to 11 per cent of India's urban population and 3 per cent of rural population above the age of 15 have diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that mortality from diabetes and heart disease cost India about $210 billion every year and is expected to increase to $335 billion in the next ten years. These estimates are based on lost productivity resulting primarily from premature death.
There are two main challenges that need to be addressed at the earliest. The first is prevention of diabetes itself, and then the prevention of complications in those affected by diabetes. Renal failure and diabetic foot are two deadly diseases caused by serious cases of diabetes. The UN Resolution, by calling on Member States to develop national policies for the prevention of diabetes, underscores the need to stem the tide of new cases to prevent the world's healthcare systems from collapsing. Development of national policies for the prevention of diabetes should certainly be a top priority. The decision by the government of India to launch the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke and allocate Rs 1660.50 crore during the 11th Plan period is perhaps a timely step. The NPDCS has been initiated in 10 districts of 10 States. According to Union health minister, the action plan is being focussed for early detection and appropriate management of diabetes and other diseases. Huge increase in number of diabetes cases in India is due to factors including unhealthy diet, obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that Indians as an ethnic group have high risk of developing diabetes. For most in the world, the solutions to the spiralling diabetes pandemic will involve improving access to proven but low cost therapies especially in low income countries. Governments of all countries have to realize this and bring the medicines used for the treatment of diabetes under price control. Pharmaceutical industry also needs to intensify their new drug research to find effective molecules to fight the disease.