The Hindu : National : "More cases of juvenile insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Western countries"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 27, 2006

National

National

"More cases of juvenile insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Western countries"

CHENNAI: With reference to the news item `WHO puts China ahead of India in incidence of diabetes', diabetologist Dr. C.V. Krishnaswami writes: "It is thought-provoking for both doctors and the general public, because we are fed with a very sumptuous diet on the ever-increasing diabetes statistics and the consequences thereupon, by the media almost on a daily basis. Ms. Gojka Roglic, Technical Officer, Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, WHO, has given the facts very clearly, that the major cause for increased numbers are increased population and survival (life expectancy). There are, of course, a host of other reasons (as against causes) notably wrong diet and obesity affecting more young persons with diabetes. What, of course, has not been mentioned is the fact that the incidence of juvenile insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes) is many times more in the West than in the Orient. A recent data published by the WHO is worth sharing with the public as it brings out a favourably startling inference that over the next 10 years India is the best country to be living in, if you want to survive with diabetes!

"There is much genuine and non-commercial research to be done in the field of diabetes. India is the right place, the present is the right time, and Government support to the right type of initiatives would surely bring out many more startling facts to make us the real leaders in the field, not followers of guidelines in diabetes dished out by Societies and Associations unfamiliar with the ground realities in our country.

"For more information, the readers are invited to browse www.pubmedinfo.com (public medical information portal)."

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