Last week I had a 45 year old farmer come into the clinic, his foot swaddled in a dirty home made bandage, on removing it, the stench that hit me made me gag, and one of the veteran nurses actually ran out of the room. He had sustained a thorn prick to his right big toe a week ago which refused to heal, and now his foot up to his ankle was black and severely infected. He needed an amputation to save his life.

Ask any one what the worst diseases affecting India are, and you are sure to get a list that has mostly HIV, TB, malaria and other infectious diseases. One of the least mentioned diseases (unless you are in Kerala) is diabetes. Unfortunately what most of us don’t know is that it is one of world’s fastest growing disease, with an astounding 6% of the world’s adult population already diabetic. And you guessed it, India is the diabetes capital of the world, the largest number of patients, one of the fastest growth rates (of new patients), spreading alarmingly among the rural population and pathetic medical care.

Diabetes now accounts for 70 per cent of all lower limb amputations (worldwide)…..someone with diabetes in India was 25 times more likely to have a leg amputated than someone without it.

Times online says diabetes causes more amputations than landmines. The 45 year old man who got an amputation will never plow his fields again, his family will go inot a cycle of debt and perhaps never recover. All this could have been prevented. Demand comprehensive care from your doctors that includes detailed body check ups, diet advice and exercise therapy. World diabetes foundation is setting up quality care centers all over the country, find the ones on your city/town, ensure your loved ones and neighbours, perhaps even you, are well protected. We have enough diseases and have been through enough epidemics, lets try kill this one before it begins.

For more info and to find out how you can help visit the WDF site and look up the work they are doing in your part of the world.

http://mutiny.in/