People with diabetes in India doubled from 32 million in 2000 to 63 million in 2013, and the number is projected to rise to 101.2 million in 15 years, says the latest assessment by WHO, raising the alarm over the need to treat and contain the condition. Public health agencies worldwide are concerned as diabetes is linked to ailments ranging from strokes to cardiovascular disease with implications regarding a disability-adjusted life. Though mortality due to diabetes is relatively less compared to cancer and cardiac disorders, the disease imposes costs by way of medication and productivity of individuals. Besides, diabetes often also creates trouble in the treatment of various diseases. Experts also pointed towards the escalating socio-economic costs due to the disease.

The annual spend on account of diabetes treatment in India is pegged at Rs 1.5 lakh crore, 4.7 times the Centre’s allocation of Rs 32,000 crore on health and three-fourth of the budgeted service tax collections this fiscal This cost is projected to rise by 20-30% every year.

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The government has already initiated multisectoral approaches to tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases with a special focus on diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The strategy includes measures for prevention, early detection, infrastructure development and human resource.

WHO has further recommended the government to regulate the marketing of food to children, and insist on accurate food labelling to help consumers make decisions that can help them avoid diabetes.

In India, around 75,900 males and 51,700 females in the age group of 30-69 years died due to diabetes in 2015, whereas 46,800 males and 45,600 females above 70 years of age died of the disease, according to WHO. However, the agency maintains the mortality data is uncertain in the absence of national monitoring.

Credit: Times of India