Diabetes count: Three crore patients in India now
HT Correspondent
Varanasi, April 13, 2006
First Published: 00:00 IST(13/1/2007)
“THERE ARE nearly 2.5 crore to 3 crore patients of diabetes in India. It usually affects people above the age of 40 years, but even younger persons can be affected (juvenile diabetes). It is more common in males,” said Institute of Medical Sciences- Banaras Hindu University faculty member Dr Madhukar Rai.
He was delivering a lecture on “Complications, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes” as part of the ongoing “Public Awareness Lecture Series on Health’ at KN Udupa auditorium in BHU on Thursday afternoon. He said that diabetes could be diagnosed by a simple blood sugar test.
“If the after-meals blood sugar is more than 180 mg/dL, than a diagnosis of diabetes is made,” he said, adding that it was important to consult a doctor at the earliest.
“In addition to medicines, which should be taken only on the advice of a doctor, lifestyle modifications are also important. These include regular exercise, avoidance of smoking, alcohol, cholesterol-rich and junk food,” he said. All persons above the age of 40 should undergo a yearly blood sugar test, he added.
Head of Endocrinology Department Prof SK Singh delivered a lecture on complications of diabetes, which included diabetic nephropathy (kidney diseases) and retinopathy (visual disturbances).
He emphasised that regular monitoring of blood sugar level and strict control of blood sugar were the most important preventive measures.
“These patients should also undergo check-ups at regular intervals, so that complications be detected early and treated promptly,” he said.
Dr SK Gupta, Reader in General Surgery Department, spoke about diabetic foot.
“Foot ulcers are very common in diabetic patients. As many as one in seven diabetics develop foot ulcers during their life-time. Foot ulcers can become infected and lead to life-threatening complications,” he said.
“It is one of the most common causes of lower limb amputation. Foot ulcers generally occur due to ignorance and carelessness. All diabetics must inspect their feet daily to look for any cuts or wounds. They should not walk bare foot and should wear comfortable shoes. If any cut or injury occurs, it should be immediately shown to a doctor,” he suggested. BHU finance officer Smita S. Chaudhary inaugurated the programme.