India, home to over 61 million diabetics, is now putting together plans for massive global scientific projects to find innovative ways to fight the disease, whose burden has gone up in the country by 50.8 million since 2010.

To be called “India Programme XII on Diabetes Research”, the ministry of science plans to invite proposals for this global alliance in diabetes research.

The ministry says, “Research needs to be conducted into diabetes through more novel pathways, than the traditional paradigm that is related to an excess of energy in the body either due to overeating or lowered physical activity.”

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) says by 2030, India’s diabetes burden is expected to cross the 100 million mark as against 87 million earlier envisaged. The country is also the largest contributor to regional mortality with 9.83 lakh deaths attributed to diabetes last year.

Dr Anoop Misra from Fortis Hospitals in New Delhi said, “Inter-country cooperation in diabetes research since many such population and ethnic groups share similar metabolic perturbations and high propensity to develop metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Indian scientists would benefit immensely if they share their research experience with counterparts from other nations.”

The science ministry proposal says Rs 25 crore will be set aside for global collaboration with partial funding coming from participating countries. Latest statistics revealed by the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) 5th Diabetes Atlas say, India’s prevalence of diabetes among 20-79-year olds is 9.2%. In sheer numbers, India, however, is only second to China.

IDF says, “India will face one of the toughest struggles against diabetes in the region. India also accounts for most of the 112,000 children in the region with Type-1 diabetes.”

Bariatric surgeon Dr Ramen Goel added, “One person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds. Healthcare spending on diabetes has reached $465 billion in the country.”

IDF adds, “New figures indicate that the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030. This means three new cases every 10 seconds or 10 million per year.”

• India is home to over 61m diabetics
• By 2030, it is expected to cross the 100 million mark
• India also accounts for most of the 112,000 children in the region with Type-1 diabetes
• One person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds in India
• If no urgent action is taken, by 2030, India will have 3 new diabetic cases in every 10 seconds or almost 10m per year