In a bid to create an accurate database on the diabetic patients in the country, United Diabetes Forum (UDF) will create a registry for diabetics with a special focus to record the number of hyperglycaemia cases.

Currently, there is no statistics available on the number of diabetics as there has been no nation wide survey. This makes it all the more necessary to maintain a record of diabetics to help the doctors. This registry which is a systemic record of patient data is a first of its kind in the country and could also be utilized for clinical trials, Dr Manoj, Chawla, founder-president, United Diabetes Forum and head, Lina Diabetes Centre told Pharmabiz.

There is a need for diabetologists and general practitioners to interact with patients to prevent complications resulting out of diabetes which is life threatening because patients shy away from both drugs and diet. Of the 44 million people with diabetes, 30 per cent suffer from diabetic neuropathy, 20 per cent are diagnosed for nephropathy and 35 per cent with retinopathy.

In order to prevent the complications and control hyperglycaemia attacks, diabetologists stress the need for early introduction of insulin when patients are not responding to oral drugs. Insulin is also preferred for children and adolescents in type-II diabetes. In the past, onset of diabetes was between 50-55 years, complications came in at 70 years. But now with the diabetes (type-II) striking people at 25, complications can hamper the prime period of life, informed Dr Chawla.

With the advent of modern insulin and state-of-the-art Novo Nordisk Flexpen insulin therapies is fast becoming acceptable across India according to a section of diabetologists.

United Diabetes Forum was also associated with the global insulin drug major Novo Nordisk to train diabetologists in clinical trials as India is an important destination for diabetic studies going by vast patient pool.

UDF is represented by diabetologists who have completed post graduate diploma in diabetology. The Forum is an initiative from Mumbai and was launched in May this year. Currently, 40 diabetologists who are PG diploma holders in diabetes are members of the Forum. The key objective of UDF is to share views and experiences on the management of diabetes. Plans are underway to organize a 'Diabetes Mela' at Mumbai in February 2009 which will focus on issues of patient management. The Forum is also getting its web site ready.

"There is no specialization in the area of diabetes in medicine and so after MBBS, doctors take up MD either in endocrinology or internal medicine. In order to treat the growing number of diabetic patients, Mumbai University was the first to offer Post Graduate Diploma in Diabetology. In the south, Annamalai University and Dr Mohan Diabetes Care Centre also offer the same course. UDF Going by the increasing incidence and the morbidity of the diabetes, a specialization in the field is a must," stated Dr Chawla.