The Hindu Business Line : Four-day expo on diabetes in Hyderabad

PROMPTED by the poor awareness of diabetes in Hyderabad in spite of its high prevalence, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre is organising an `entrance-free' four-day exhibition titled `Diabetes 2005' at Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam here from Thursday.

While Lifescan and Johnson & Johnson are the main sponsors, various pharmaceutical companies are co-sponsoring the mega expo, the largest show ever held on diabetes in the country, the Centre Chairman, Dr V. Mohan, said.

Addressing newspersons here on Wednesday, he said Hyderabad has attained the dubious distinction of being the diabetes capital of the country with the high prevalence levels of 22.1 per cent as per the latest study.

The Diabetes Awareness Survey in Hyderabad (DASH) study conducted in the twin cities has recently pointed out that the diabetes prevalence levels have grown significantly from 16.6 per cent as per the National Urban Diabetes Survey (NUDS) of 2001. Stating that the exact reasons for the growing prevalence rate of diabetes in Hyderabad were not yet ascertained, Dr Mohan said the data is currently being analysed.

Chennai has the second highest prevalence of diabetes at 15.5 per cent now as compared to the 13.5 per cent prevalence rate in 2001 as per the NUDS report. The centre had organised diabetes awareness exhibitions at Chennai three times earlier and attracted over five lakh visitors, he said.

"The DASH study has revealed that nearly 43 per cent of the Hyderabad population were unaware of a condition called diabetes and 65 per cent did not know that diabetes could affect the eyes, which could lead to decreased sight," the Centre Managing Director, Dr M. Rema, said.

Apart from offering all the diagnostic facilities at concessional rates to the visitors at the four-day exhibition, the centre would also sell the diagnostic equipment at discounted rates, Dr Mohan said. It will also have a diet museum with the demonstration of diabetic diets and recipes.