60% diabetics undiagnosed in India: Expert

Mumbai: Nearly 60% of Indians suffering from diabetes remain undiagnosed, said the International Diabetes Federation chief Jean Claude Mbanya at a diabesity summit held in Mumbai on Thursday. 
    Underlining the lack of awareness about the disease, he said one million Indians died every year due to diabetes-related complications. Dr Mbanya made these observations while delivering the keynote address at the Diabesity Summit organized by Times of India and the Sanofi Diabetes Blue Fortnight 2012. look chubby," said Khan. 
    "They don't realize they are contributing to an imbalanced nutrition that will show up as a problem later in life," she added. 
    Khan said India could take a hint from Korea, where companies provided economic incentives to people who keep themselves fit. "We could promote non-stick cookware and train anganwadi and other healthcare workers on the need for proper nutrition," she added. 
    Endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi said, "We live in a concretized world where fat is the next tobacco." He said obesity had surpassed malnutrition. "Because of labour-saving devices, there is a rise in 
    Maharashtra minister of state for public health Fawzia Khan, who was the chief guest, said there is a need for better health awareness in society given the galloping rate of the twin epidemic of diabetes and obesity. "We see mothers giving fatty foods to their children so that they childhood obesity. One in four children are obese," Dr Joshi added. Dr Anoop Misra, chairman of the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, said, "India is facing a tsunami of diabetes."