Indigenous testing devices for diabetes developed

The health ministry has developed two indigenous diabetes testing devices which would be available to people in the next 6-12 months, the Lok Sabha was informed Friday.

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that they have supported two investigators at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai and at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (Hyderabad Campus), resulting in the development of two indigenous devices and testing strips for estimation of blood glucose, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

He said under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), glucometers, glucostrips and lancets are provided to clinics for screening of diabetes among the population aged above 30.

As on date, 5.33 crore people have been screened, out of which 6.13 percent are suspected to be diabetics.