Dimapur, September 7: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai has been carrying out a nation-wide study called India Diabetes Study.
The study is in its second phase which covers the North Eastern States of India. The study will be conducted in Nagaland through the department of health and family welfare, and will be for a period of nine months.
Principal Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. L. Watikala in a statement said, the pilot study will begin from September 8 in Kohima district. “The main aim of the study is to assess the burden of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the country. The burden of hypertension and heart diseases will also be studied. The study will cover 50 villages and 50 urban wards throughout the State with total sample size of 4000 individuals.”Watikala said, the study is the first of its kind and will provide a reliable data on the prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, and common heart diseases. “It will also produce evidence on dietary habits of the community. Thus the study will help to create evidence and awareness about the growing burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart diseases. The study subjects will also be benefitted directly through free testing of blood sugar, measurement of height and weight, referral of positive cases to health centres, etc.”
The Principal Director said, the field work will be conducted by teams of Quality Supervisors, Field Investigators, and Field Technicians (Nurses and Lab Technicians) who have been locally recruited and trained by ICMR in Chennai and Dibrugarh. Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie, Joint Director is the Principal Investigator and Dr. Sao Tunyi, Epidemiologist is the Co- Principal Investigator for India Diabetes Study, Nagaland.
