Kathmandu, Nov. 14 -- As many as 22 percent of Kathmandu residents over 30 have high blood sugar, according to a preliminary report of a random blood sugar test carried out by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City around a year ago.

The figure is almost three times the estimated national average of eight percent, which doctors and public health experts say is alarming.

Of 19,660 people tested during the study, five percent were newly diagnosed with diabetes, while 14.5 percent said that they already had the disease. Officials also said another 2.4 percent of the population were found not taking medication despite knowing that they have high blood sugar levels.

"Though we don't have data on population-level studies on diabetes, it is clear th...