India is facing major health problem of rising diabetes and according to a latest study by World Health Organization (WHO), about 20 per cent of the world's diabetic population is from India. It further projects an increase in the incidence of diabetes in the Indian population to 79 million by 2030, giving India the dubious distinction of being the "world's diabetes capital".

The WHO estimates that by 2030 more than 360 million people worldwide will have diabetes, especially in South-East Asia and Western Pacific. The prevalence of diabetes is predicted to increase dramatically. It is increasing economic burden, which grows through this epidemic.

According to Dr Shashank Joshi, consultant endocrinologist at Lilavati and KEM hospitals in Mumbai, "Diabetes has become an epidemic in India. Every 5th diabetic in the world is an Indian, and every 5th Mumbaikar will be a diabetic in 5 years. The keys to prevent diabetes are eat less, eat on time, walk more, sleep well and smile. For a diabetic, the key to remain complication free is to have a good lifestyle, monitor glucose regularly, take medications and see doctor regularly."

One important new piece of evidence is the multi centre group ROSSO study (Retrolective Study Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose and Outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes), that has verified scientifically for the first time that Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) - independent of therapy which contributes to decreasing rates of mortality and morbidity.

The ROSSO study was conducted by the German Diabetes Centre (GDC) and sponsored by Roche Diagnostics. GDC is one of the leading research centres in Germany for diabetes mellitus. In addition, the GDC acts as the WHO's collaborating centre for diabetes and the European training centre in endocrinology and metabolism.

SMBG enables people with diabetes anywhere and at any time, to understand certain types of behaviour impacts on blood glucose levels. Previous studies on the effectiveness of SMBG primarily compared the HbA1c values, which are taken from the people with diabetes in the study group to the HbA1c values, which is taken from people with diabetes in the control group.

The ROSSO study has examined this relation on the basis of "hard endpoints". The defined non-fatal endpoints (morbidity) were myocardial infarction, stroke, amputation, blindness or the necessity for haemodialysis treatment. The mortality rate was determined by analysing all mortalities regardless of the cause of death. The statisticians compared the morbidity and mortality rates of people with diabetes, who self-monitored their blood glucose for at least one year with the data of people with diabetes who did not self-monitor their blood glucose.