The number of diabetic patients will increase three times by 2025, according to the Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre (DENMARC), which is a group of doctors working on the reduction of the disease for the last two decades. DENMARC director H.B Chandalia, while announcing 'Defeat Diabetes' here today, said the number of diabetic patients was on the increase due to change in lifestyle and diet in the country. DENMARC has organised a three-day event, 'Defeat Diabetes 2008', at the Nehru centre starting from May 23 to 25, which will be inaugurated by Nita Ambani. ''The diet change along with inadequate exercise has been one of the main reasons for the increase in type II diabetes, which can be reduced by 58 per cent with proper diet and exercise,'' Dr Chandalia said. Dr Vijay Ajgaonkar, a consultant diabetologist, said the disease can be cured to some extent with proper exercise and right diet which is much needed. The age-group suffering diabetes in India has come down by a decade as compared to the international average, he said. ''The only way to reduce the number of patients is to make them aware of the disease and help them to understand prevention ways and the event 'Defeat Diabetes 2008' will do that,'' Dr Chandalia added.