Insulin may run short in two years

Press, 29 November 1976, Page 24

Insulin may run short in two years

PA Wellington Detection of diabetes is increasing at such a rate that it is expected worldwide supplies of insulin will be inadequate in two years. The president of the Diabetic Association of New Zealand, (Mr Trevor Gollins) said the main reason for the increase was that diabetes was being detected faster in developing countries.

Mr Gollins, who attended the international diabetes congress in New Delhi this month, said the International Diabetes Federation, and the World Health Organisation have taken steps to combat a possible insulin shortage. In India alone, Mr Gollins said, there were seven million cases of diabetes, of which about 10 per cent could afford to buy vital supplies of insulin. Diabetes was frequently associated with obesity and the congress was told that on Nauru Island, where the average income was $30,000 a year, the incidence of diabetes among the population of 4000 was almost 50 per cent.