World Diabetes Day is being observed today across the globe including India to raise public awareness about harmful effects of diabetes.

To mark the day, diabetic camps, scientific sessions, seminars, walks and other activities have been planned across the country.

AIR correspondent reports, recent studies have conclusively established that diabetes is growing in the country at an alarming rate.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 346 million people worldwide are diabetic and the figures are likely to double by 2030.
Almost one-fifth of the world's afflicted are in India where 62.5 million people are diabetic and about 50% of them are ignorant of their status.

Of the aware lot, too, very few people seek timely medical intervention.

According to experts, the fact that diabetes is a progressive disorder makes it all the more important to go in for treatment at the earliest.

Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO), the Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.