1 in 4 found diabetic in Kolkata borough: Local survey causes general worry

KOLKATA: A significant 23% citizens (around 1 in every 4 persons) were found to be diabetic in a survey conducted by an NGO across a Kolkata Municipal Corporation borough area with an alarming 46% of them unaware of the condition. While a steep 80% of them had “uncontrolled” diabetes which has already damaged their nerves, blood vessels and vital organs, half of them had no family history of the disease.
The survey has thrown up another alarming fact on the eve of World Diabetes Day on Monday — 40% of the diabetics were already suffering from one or more diabetes-triggered ailments like neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiac diseases, brain stroke and retinopathy.
Carried out on 3,500 residents of Borough 12 between March 1 and November 10 by Diabetes Awareness and You (DAY), which works on identifying diabetics and reaching out to patients withawareness programmes and treatment, the sample survey is an indicator of the silent spread of the disease and its late detection.
While 30% of the diabetics were under treatment, the rest were reluctant to get treated, said the survey.