World Diabetes Day: Novo Nordisk Education Foundation unveils 2nd-year report of Impact India: 1000-day Challenge 

New Delhi: In the run-up to World Diabetes Day on 14^th November, the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation has unveiled the second-year report of its Impact India: 1000-Day Challenge’ programme. The program was launched two years ago with the ambition of reducing the HbA1c levels of people with diabetes in India by 1 percent over the next 1000 days, thereby reducing the risk of complications and the economic burden associated with diabetes. Encouraged by the government’s ground-breaking health care initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the availability of real-time data from digital platforms, this programme, as per Novo Nordisk, further strengthens the belief that it is now possible to fight the battle against diabetes.

According to the report, the average HbA1c level of the country was recorded at 8.48 percent from October 2019 to September 2020. Though the average HbA1C level has decreased marginally compared to last year’s figures, the prevailing high HbA1c levels is a matter of deep concern especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic which puts people with uncontrolled diabetes at a higher risk of a fatal outcome and serious health complications. The data collection exercise for the iDCI was conducted across 30 Indian cities. The average respondent age was 55 years, of which 57 percent were males and 43 percent female.

At present, more than 77 million people are living with diabetes in India and the country’s annual spending is approximately INR 64,500 crores on diabetes-related healthcare which is further expected to increase if diabetes is not controlled. HbA1c is the best-recommended indicator of long-term blood sugar control and gives average blood sugar control for 3 months.

The second-year report was launched in the presence of Mr Vikrant Shrotriya, Trustee, Novo Nordisk Education Foundation, Prof. Dr A.K. Das, Professor of Medicine, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry and Patron of the Impact India programme, Sachin Kumar Singh, CEO, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India and H.E. Freddy Svane, the Danish Ambassador in India.