Diabetes affected people above the age of 65 in developed countries, but in India, especially in the south, it struck the age group of 30 to 65, with urban population being more vulnerable to attack, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Arcot Veerasamy said on Saturday. The type-II non-insulin dependant formed over 90 per cent of the patients, he said while inaugurating the 'diabetes 2000', a mega exhibition on the disease, organised by the M V Diabetes Specialities Centre Pvt Ltd, the only ISO 9002 certified diabetics centre in the country.
Quoting official statistics, Veerasamy said in India, diabetes affected only three crore people in 1985 but ten years later, the figure had gone up to 13.50 crore and in the next 25 years, it is likely to affect 30 crore people. Till the 20th century, it was considered a Killer disease but it has now become controllable with adequate medications.
Recalling work done under the 'varumun kaapom', a preventive health care scheme, launched in November last year, he said so far 8500 camps were organised and 90 lakh people were screened for various ailments and medicines worth Rs six crore were distributed free of cost.
The chief minister, who was to inaugurate the exhibition, did not attend due to indisposition.
Bureau Report