title: The need for obtaining accurate nationwide estimates of diabetes prevalence in India - rationale for a national study on diabetes.
abstract: According to the World Diabetes Atlas, India is projected to have around 51 million people with diabetes. However, these data are based on small sporadic studies done in some parts of the country. Even a few multi-centre studies that have been done, have several limitations. Also, marked heterogeneity between States limits the generalizability of results. Other studies done at various time periods also lack uniform methodology, do not take into consideration ethnic differences and have inadequate coverage. Thus, till date there has been no national study on the prevalence of diabetes which are truly representative of India as a whole. Moreover, the data on diabetes complications is even more scarce. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a large well-planned national study, which could provide reliable nationwide data, not only on prevalence of diabetes, but also on pre-diabetes, and the complications of diabetes in India. A study of this nature will have enormous public health impact and help policy makers to take action against diabetes in India.
authors.affiliation: Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for Noncommunicable Diseases, Prevention & Control, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anjana
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pradeepa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deepa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Unnikrishnan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rema
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mohan
mesh_terms: D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D057766:Policy; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health