New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS): In order to create awareness among people about Diabetes, city-based Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was bathed in blue light to mark the World Diabetes Day on Wednesday, November 14.

According to the hospital authorities, the initiative is a part of a challenge that calls for medical institutions to wear a blue hue to mark the occasion.

"Blue colour has been chosen by International Diabetes Federation since 2006 to increase awareness about Diabetes. Awareness efforts include WDD Monument Challenge to turn blue. As a part of this campaign, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has been lit blue today," Dr. Surender Kumar said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 420 million people live with diabetes worldwide. Approximately 8.7 per cent people in India aged 20-70 years are diabetic.

As per the WHO, this trend in India is because of rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and increasing life expectancy.

"Diabetes can impose a large economic burden on people and their families in terms of higher out-of-pocket healthcare payments and loss of family income associated with disability, premature death, and caring for the disabled family members," the WHO said.