Expressing concern that every fourth adult person in the capital is already diabetic or prone to it, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit today said a focussed awareness plan was required to make the city free of the disease.
"The government is committed to make the city diabetes-free. There is urgent need for a comprehensive and focused plan for diabetes awareness and care in Delhi," Dikshit said during the launching of Urban Slum Health Check-up scheme for Diabetes and Blood Pressure in New Delhi.
India leads the list of top ten countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes as approximately 58 million adults suffer from the disease and the number is expected to rise to nearly 87 million by 2030.
"The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is showing a rising trend in India in the last two decades. The problems of diabetes in India has taken alarming proportions in the urban population particularly the metros such as Delhi," she said.
According to studies every fourth adult person in Delhi is already diabetic or diabetes prone.
The chief minister also said that the situation in the country poses greater challenge to all because Indians have already been shown to have a high diabetes risk.
A large number of individuals with pre-diabetes in the community are also on the threshold of becoming diabetic, she added.
Dikshit was hopeful that the scheme for diabetes and blood pressure will help to provide better access of diabetes care at various government hospitals.
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