Experts express concern over lifestyles which put people at a high risk of diabetes

* Every 10 seconds, a new diabetic patient is diagnosed in the world.
* Nearly 19,000 every day die due to diabetes and its complications.
* A diabetes related amputation every 30 seconds.

Diabetes is increasing all over the world both in developed as well as developing countries. With November 14 observed as World Diabetes Day, a host of special awareness programmes has been organised in the city that includes rallies and exhibitions about the disease. An India Diabetes Week will also coincide with the World Diabetes Day.

Says Dr Abhay Mutha, president, Diabetes Care and Research Foundation, "The total population of diabetic patients in the world in 2003 was approximately 150-180 million out of which 35-40 million were in India itself and this number is going to almost double in next 15 years, say, 300 million in 2020."

According to the prediction of WDF (World Diabetes Federation) the developing world will have the major impact of diabetes and will harbour almost 220 million patients and developed world will have approximately 75-80 million patients in 2020.

Mutha cited a recent study in five metropolitan cities of the country, which stated that Pune has at least three-four lakh diabetic patients. "Almost 15 per cent of the people in the age group 30 onwards have diabetes," says Mutha pointing out that perhaps this was the reason why Pune has a higher incidence of heart diseases as compared to other cities.

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