Indian Development Foundation and M. V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, jointly organized Diabetes awareness exhibition under the caption of “Protect Your Organs’ at the lighthouse, Marina Beach, Chennai.
Diabetes is recognized today as a major lifestyle disease and India has become the Diabetes Capital of the world with 65 million people having Diabetes. The figure is likely to go up to 101.1 million by 2030.
Key facts – WHO
- In 2014 the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be 9% among adults aged 18+ years. In 2012, an estimated 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes.
- More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle - income countries.
- WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030.
Diabetes Mellitus is reaching potentially epidemic proportions in India. The level of morbidity and mortality due to diabetes and its potential complications is enormous. They pose significant healthcare burdens on both families and society. It is a matter of grave concern diabetes is now being shown to be associated with a spectrum of complications and to be occurring at a relatively younger age within the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vijay Viswanathan, Head & Chief Diabetologist, M. V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, Royapuram mentioned that” Diabetes was the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged between 20 – 74 years and is the leading cause of kidney failure accounting for 44% of all the new cases of kidney failure. More than 60% of non traumatic lower limb amputations occur in diabetes and the risk of heart attack and stroke is two to four times higher in diabetes”. According to a study by Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre in 2010, the cost of Diabetes Mellitus treatment in India is 1230 billion Indian rupees.
Mr. S. Sreeram, Manager TN, IDF said “Psychosocial factors play a crucial role in diabetes management. Though 41% of people with diabetes have poor psychological well-being, only about 10% receive psychological care in India there is a need for more in-depth education and awareness to empower the patient to self-manage his diabetes”
Earlier Mr. Murugesan, Asst. Commissioner of Police, Mylapore was the Chief Guest and inaugurated 'Protect your Organs' exhibition at the Lighthouse.
