If someone asks you do you have diabetics? The answer will be I do not know. In India situation is worst. One in Seven Indian
is diabetic and one third of them do not know it. These are findings of researchers of Diabetic Research Centre (DRC), a WHO collaboration centre. Findings are from data of 10000 peoples living in different parts of India.
The prevalence rate of diabetes in Urban India is 12-15% and where the incidence in rural India is much less 2-6%. But the data from the
villages is doubtful. Because the
diagnosis rate is lower in villages and approximately 50% cases remain unreported. The reason for it is non availability of better diagnosing tools at rural level.
To make the risk analysis easier, DRC Has developed a diabetic risk ready-reckoner for India in partnership with university of Cambridge and university of Sydney. This is Indian Risk Score; this score will help doctors diagnosis undetected patients by adding a simple handful of numbers. The score is based on the relative role major risk factors for type 2 diabetes and person’s risk on the ground of age, weight, waist circumference and physical activity level. A Total score of over 21 indicates high diabetes risk, which would require testing, diagnosis and treatment.
There are over 13 million undiagnosed diabetics in country and to diagnosis among them among 700 million is very difficult. The risk score helps to get them diagnosed and get treated for diabetes. The card is simple and can be filled by a patient or health worker. The early diagnosis is only alternative to complications like affecting the nerves, kidney, eyes and the heart. Therefore Score provides a lot of hope for countries like India were infrastructure and healthcare is not in proper shape.