New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS): Aimed at creating awareness about diabetes and the requisite medical care, health experts Thursday launched a handbook and a mobile application.

Named "Sugar Cure", the handbook on diabetes management is a user-friendly guide for diabetes patients and those at high risk of developing the condition.

It was launched on the eve of World Diabetes Day with a view to making India a "fore-runner in diabetes care, rather than in diabetes".

"Nearly 80 to 90 percent diabetes patients are treated by general practitioners instead of specialists. Considering this, it is important to train them," Vinod Gujral, diabetologist, National Heart Institute, told IANS.

"There is a shortfall of specialists in treating diabetes in India," Gujral said.

"The age of onset of diabetes is almost two decades younger in India compared to Western population. Therefore, diabetes affects people in the prime of their life and not only increases the clinical burden on the healthcare system, but is also an economic burden to the society," Vinod Sharma, interventional cardiologist, National Heart Institute.

Gujral also explained a new smartphone application, which he said has been designed for general practitioners, specialists and even patients, through which they can send him their queries.