120 million Indians to be diabetic in next 20 years

New Delhi: India, which currently has 70 million people with diabetes, will have 120 million suffering from the chronic condition in next 20 years.

According to GVS Murthy, Director of Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), India has the second largest number of people with diabetes which is at 70 million, next only to China which has about 110 million.

However, the number of diabetes patients in India is expected to touch 120 million during the next two decades, due to a variety of reasons, said Murthy on Thursday on the eve of World Health Day.

He also said that on an average every diabetic spends about Rs 25,000 annually to manage the disease and its associated complications.

According to him, in 50 per cent of adult deaths, diabetes is an underlying condition causing the demise.

It is estimated that globally the health expenditure due to diabetes among adults is USD 673 billion.

The expenditure on diabetes is at the government level as well as the individual patient/family level, he said.

"The per person annual cost of managing diabetes in India is Rs 25,000 approximately. There will be a wide variation based on complications, etc. Unfortunately insurance schemes in India do not cover the cost of care for diabetes," he further said.

Murthy stressed that diabetes may also cause depression - which is the theme of this year's World Health Day - in a patient if the disease is not properly controlled.

"The diabetes patients need to take medication life long. Some of the important organs like eyes and kidneys may be affected if diabetes is not controlled. These kind of issues may cause depression. So the patients are to be counselled before hand," he said.

The IIPH director said India needs to look at how yoga, meditation and lifestyle modifications can reduce the progression of diabetes and help in its prevention.

In 2011, the Central government had started a National Programme for Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), which also includes diabetes. It was first started in 100 districts on a pilot basis and has now been extended to 500 districts.

Murthy said under the programme, free medicines are provided for diabetes at all NCD clinics. An annual screening for diabetes is done and insulin is provided at all the emergency facilities.

To a query, he said the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) plays important role in spreading awareness about diabetes and its implications.

The Indian Institutes of Public Health have been established by PHFI with an aim to make their education and research activities relevant to India in content and context, while attaining standards which are qualitatively comparable with the best in the world.

The World Health Day is observed on April 7 every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO.

(With PTI inputs)