Diabetes treatment to get better across state

BANGALORE: Despite being the diabetes capital, infrastructure to reach patients across the country is still not standardized. Around 2.5 to 3.5% of Karnataka's population has diabetes and many more are not counted, as they don't get themselves tested.
A project funded by the World Diabetes Foundation may bring in some changes. Project Code, which will be launched later this month, aims to standardize diabetes testing and treatment in Karnataka, in accordance with the International Diabetes Federation guidelines.
The project covers 14 districts of Karnataka -- Mysore, Chamarajnagar, Kodagu, Chikamagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Uttar Kannada, Haveri, Koppal, Raichur, Bellary, Davangere, Chitradurga and Gadag.Government, private and NGO hospitals will be involved. It will include mobile and central lab facilities, which will be 30% to 70% cheaper than those elsewhere. People who can keep their diabetes levels in control will be given incentives as well. "There are no full-fledged diabetes testing labs even in large towns. They send samples to Bangalore or Hubli. With 41 million people suffering from diabetes in India, it has become a public health issue. But there is no national policy on the disease yet. That is why there has to be a comprehensive, standardized process," said project in-charge, Project Code, Dr Praveen R Murthy.
For the first time, a website will offer special instructions to patients in nine different languages. It will maintain diabetes wellness care record that can be used across the project area. According to Dr Murthy, even while a lot of organizations offer free check-ups, those are mostly in cities like Bangalore. Rural masses cannot access those directly and they have to spend a lot on travelling.