LUCKNOW, Nov. 14 -- People must take a balanced diet, including multigrain products and green vegetables, and avoid alcohol, tobacco and saturated fat products to reduce the risk of diabetes, say doctors. "For prevention from diabetes, there is a need to raise awareness among the people who are pre-diabetic. Some people get affected due to hereditary issues but change in lifestyle, avoiding stress, junk food and trans fatty acids can reduce the risk of the disease," said Dr Kuldeep Verma, consultant physician, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital, on the eve of World Diabetes Day which is observed on November 14 every year. "Diabetes affects kidney, liver, eyes and creates numbness in legs. Diabetic patients should monitor their blood pressure too and must get their kidney function test, liver function test, thyroid and lipid profiles done from time to time. Increase in these tests can result in a heart attack or brain stroke," he added. Dr Sanjeev Khatwani, senior physician, Lok Bandhu Shri Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, Lucknow, said bread, biscuits and other food products made of refined flour (maida) should not be consumed by diabetics. According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 537 million adults aged 20-79 had diabetes worldwide as of 2021. This number is projected to increase to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. There are an estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 with diabetes in India....