Call for action against diabetes by The Research Trust of Diabetes India (DiabetesIndia)

Mumbai, April 16, 2019: The Research Trust of Diabetes India (DiabetesIndia) on April 18, 2019 will announce the launch of their nationwide 1000 day initiative campaign to address the issues associated with diabetes. The campaign aims to reach out to over half million families across India, especially to rural areas and smaller towns; educate them on diabetes, early diagnosis and disease management. Patients will be advised on managing conditions like hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity especially in simple clinic settings. It is also a countdown to celebrate centenary of the first ever insulin injection, a landmark discovery of modern medicine.

According to the WHO and the International Diabetes Federation, India is home to 74 million people with diabetes. In simple terms around one in six people with diabetes in the world is from India. As per ‘The Research Trust of Diabetes India’, nearly 90% of people with diabetes are treated either by primary care physicians (PCP) or general physicians (GP). During the1000 day programme DiabetesIndia will approach over 50,000 PCPs and GPs, and work with them in order to provide better patient care. Initially, targets will be set for eight core areas, two of which will be glycemic and HbA1c control in diabetic patients.

Speaking about the initiative Dr. S.M. Sadikot, President, DiabetesIndia and Imm. Past President, International Diabetes Federation, said, “Diabetes is a spiralling life threatening risk in India and will lead towards an unhealthy and unproductive future. This 1000 day initiative has two main goals, one to impart basic knowledge on diabetes and its management amongst masses and two to celebrate the centennial anniversary of insulin injection. We hope that the effort undertaken DiabetesIndia to address this challenge will help prevent diabetes and create a healthy society.”