International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has set up its new regional office for South East Asia at the S L Raheja Hospital, a Fortis Associate, in Mumbai. IDF’s member association, the Diabetic Association of India, will co-ordinate diabetes awareness, education and prevention activities in the country.

According to Ann Keeling, chief executive officer, IDF new statistic suggests that one in eight Indian adults either has or is at high-risk of diabetes.  She revealed that diabetes and cardiovascular disease drains the Indian economy of $23 billion each year in its national income, and is posing a threat to India’s economic progress.

According to the IDF,  Diabetes Atlas 4th edition, India has the second highest number of people with diabetes at 50.8 million adults. In addition to this, 40 million Indians have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which means they are at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“It is important to keep in mind that India’s current diabetes figures are based on studies conducted several years ago. When results from a new nationally-representative diabetes study in India are published in 2011, we expect a rapid rise in the figures; similar to what was seen in China after a new study published in March this year took the total number of people with diabetes in the country from 43.2 million to the current 92.4 million, making it the country with the highest number of people with diabetes in the world,” Keeling added.

There is mounting evidence showing diabetes and its complications are threatening India’s economic progress and development. “Stellar economic growth in countries such as China and India can come with a deadly price tag, lifestyle-related risk factors for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers and other non-communicable disease (NCDs),” said Keeling.

She added that these figures are an eye-opener and a wake-up call to governments and healthcare systems around the world. In order to protect future generations and ensure sustained economic success, countries must embrace development models that include plans for long-term public health.

Diabetes is no longer merely a lifestyle disease or one that usually affects only the rich and elderly. Due to sedentary lifestyles, mass urbanisation and changing diets, diabetes is affecting people at a younger age. There are nearly 100,000 children with type 1 diabetes in India, type 1 or juvenile diabetes is an auto-immune disease that cannot be prevented. An estimated four million women in India have gestational diabetes, which affects women during pregnancy. Babies born to women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
“Increasingly, diabetes is affecting breadwinners of families who are key contributors to the economy. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that very few Indians are insured against diabetes. Therefore, payments for treatment and medication are usually made from personal savings or by taking loans and incurring debt,” said Keeling.

In May 2010, India co-sponsored UN Resolution 64/265 to hold a UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in September 2011. IDF is coordinating a programme of work – called the Diabetes Roadmap - that will produce and package arguments, evidence and solution to ensure that the UN Summit translates into real change for the millions of people with diabetes worldwide. On World Diabetes Day, IDF is launching A Call to Action on Diabetes – the first key activity from the Diabetes Roadmap programme – which will be the central advocacy tool for the global diabetes community in the lead up to the UN Summit.

S L Raheja Hospital, on behalf of the Diabetes Association of India, has planned a week-long series of activities to mark World Diabetes Day in Mumbai and other Fortis hospitals in various parts of the country. These include events for children with diabetes such as a drawing competition, quiz, talent show and a selection of education seminars for health professionals. The week will culminate on 20 November with a grand panel for general practitioners on the theme of ‘Diabetes-Renewing the crusade'.