Expert calls for army of doctors to treat diabetes

Thiruvananthapuram: President-elect of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Dr Shaukat M. Sadikot, on Thursday called for raising an army of doctors across the country to make cost-effective diabetes treatment accessible to the majority of the population.

In an interview to DC, Dr Sadikot said the diabetes population in the country had reached 65 million  and it was only second to China which has 98.4 million patients. 

Even though the IDF had projected world diabetic population to be 360 million in 2030, the figure was crossed last year suggesting that the incidence of diabetes was growing dangerously. Even Kerala was witnessing alarming increase in the number of diabetics who account for 20 to 22 per cent of the state’s population.

Dr Sadikot is here to attend a programme, ‘Diabetes: the next step,’ being organised  by Dr Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre on  Friday. He is the first Indian in 40 years to head the IDF which  has  presence in 173 countries.

“I don’t want to bring out big guidelines for management of diabetes. My endeavour will be to ensure cost-effective treatment to all diabetics.  Diabetes is not the end of  life.

With proper medication, exercise and control of sugar level, a diabetic can lead a healthy and productive life like any other person,’’ he said and added  that  people should also keep blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity under control.

Dr Sadikot, who  is consultant endocrinologist at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, said men with a waist of 90 cm  and women with 80 cm have five times greater chances of getting diabetes. Blood relations of diabetics should  get screened to check the sugar levels as they are at risk .