Diabetes is fast emerging as a global epidemic with five per cent of all deaths annually attributable to this metabolic disease. The diabetes death toll is expected to go up by 50 per cent in the next 10 years. Though it is often associated with the rich and the famous, 80 per cent of diabetic patients live in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes is caused when the body cannot effectively utilise insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate the blood sugar level. Excessive amount of sugar in blood can cause serious damage to nerves and blood vessels. In severe cases, vital organs like heart, kidneys and eyes can be irreperably damaged.

Diabetes is a genetic disorder but 95 per cent cases can be traced back to rapid increase in weight, obesity and physical inactivity. As the World Health Organisation emphasises time and again: Right weight, right diet and regular exercise prevent diabetes. Yet, worryingly, besides adults, more and more children and youngsters are getting diabetes. Cutting back on cholesterol-laden food and exercising regularly can reduce the risk of diabetes and many other diseases. It is important to check the spread of this debilitating illness for a country already shy of enough able-bodied manpower. The government and private bodies working in the field need to put out a clear message that diabetes exacts a heavy toll not only on the lives of those directly affected by it but also on the economy of the country.