India has 5.07 crore diabetes patients in 20-79 age group

This was told to Lok Sabha today by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in a written reply.

"The exact data regarding persons suffering from diabetes in India is not known, however, as per the International Diabetes Federation report published in 2009, it is estimated that there are about 507 lakh cases in the age group of 20-79 years and 1.14 lakh cases of Type-I diabetes among children," Azad said.

Type-1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type-1 diabetes is fatal unless treated with insulin.

Type-II diabetes results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.

Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy.

Various studies indicate that the trend is rising due to unhealthy diet -- low fruit and vegetable intake, increased sugar, trans-fats consumption -- besides lack of physical activity and alcohol consumption among others.

According to a study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it was estimated that there were about 3.78 crore diabetics in 2004 of which 2.14 crore were living in urban areas. The National Family Health Survey-III done in 2005-06 reprted that 5.59 per cent diabetics were in the age group of 15-49 years.

Tuberculosis: Azad also quoted a WHO report -- Global Tuberculosis Control 2010 -- and said that in 2009, out of 94 lakh estimated new TB cases world over, almost 20 lakh cases occurred in India.

Blood: The requirement of blood units across the country was 11.6 million units between April 2009 and March 2010 but only 8.01 million units were collected.

MCI: Twenty medical colleges were considered by Medical Council of India for recognition during the tenure of former president of MCI Ketan Desai, who was later arrested on corruption charges.

Out of the 20, Azad said, 19 has been given recognition by the newly constituted Board of Governors of MCI while one in Andhra Pradesh is yet to be considered for recognition.