North Karnataka, focus of survey on diabetes

A survey covering one lakh people in Karnataka to identify patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes is underway.

It will ascertain contributing factors for increasing incidence of the disease and make recommendations to the State government to equip hospitals with required facilities.

The survey, claimed to be the largest ever, under the Type 2 Diabetes Awareness Project, was launched in August jointly by Asha Heart and Diabetes Foundation and Majethia Foundation of Hubli and will conclude in June. 

The ultimate objective of the survey is to ensure setting up of the branch of the Karnataka Institute of Diabetology at the campus of the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubli along the lines of the one at the Jayadeva Institute Of Cardiology in Bangalore, to cater for the needs of diabetics in North Karnataka (NK), leading diabetologist Dr G B Sattur told Deccan Herald.

Karnataka accounts for nearly 11 per cent of the total number of Type 2 diabetics in the country and the number is really huge in the NK region. There is no accurate data available in the State.

“Though we are concentrating on different parts of the State, our primary stress is on the NK region, where the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is fast increasing and healthcare facility is way behind Bangalore and surrounding areas,” he said.

The government has ensured supply of the required medicines at the primary health centres, but it is not constant, which has created problems in many rural areas in the NK region. A large number of people are still unaware of this lifestyle disease.

“We want to study the incidence of the disease throughout Karnataka with specific reference to the NK region, associated illnesses like heart attack and blood pressure in such patients and family history of the newly diagnosed patients.

The findings will be crucial in making recommendations to the government,” he said. The medical staff appointed for the survey are finding around 50 new diabetics each  day. The staff are also studying incidences in rural and urban areas.

The findings will be presented at international conferences in the US and Europe some time next year. A branch of the Karnataka Institute Of Diabetology is badly required for the NK region, as improved facilities are needed to treat patients, Sattur said.

The medical fraternity in the region aims to deliver service of national standards through such a centre, provide regular drug treatment and create awareness about lifestyle management in rural and semi-urban areas.

Diabetes is a complicated disease and such a centre is the need of the hour, he said. A government-run diabetes institute will require five acres of land and over Rs five crore for providing infrastructure.