WORLD DIABETES DAY Chandigarh, November 14 Releasing a booklet on diabetes, former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal endorsed the role of diet and exercise to beat and manage the disease at a seminar on World Diabetes Day here today. The seminar was organised by dietician Shreya’s NGO Aaharika to create awareness about the disease and to make Chandigarh diabetes-free. The awareness of this disease is so low that despite a majority of people surveyed having a family member with diabetes, alarming four-in-five parents would have trouble recognising the warning signs, she said. “Nearly 90 per cent of all diabetes is Type 2, which can easily be brought under control via certain lifestyle changes. Moreover, one in two people currently living with diabetes is undiagnosed which is a huge number. Diabetes may have dangerous consequences if left untreated or unmanaged. Some of the consequences include blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. Therefore, increased awareness about the condition is important,” she said. “Dietary modifications alone can transform Type 1 and juvenile diabetes and we have been doing it successfully for years now,” said Shreya. “At present, Chandigarh is diabetic capital of India and we aim to make Chandigarh diabetes-free,” she said. “Prick diabetes before it pricks you”, a booklet with complete information about diabetes and diet plan for patients authored by dietician Shreya, was launched to mark the onset of the Diabetic Eradication Programme. Health talk delivered Chandigarh: World Diabetes Day was celebrated in the Sub-Divisional Hospital, Naraingarh, under the theme “Family and Diabetes”. An awareness session was held by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI, Chandigarh. Dr Kirtan Rana, Senior Resident, along with Dr Yogesh Kumar Arora, Junior Resident, delivered a health talk. It was attended by nearly 40 patients along with other hospital staff. ‘10-18% diabetics develop foot problem’ Mohali: Around 10 per cent to 18 per cent of the diabetes patients developed a foot problem that could affect the whole family socially, economically and psychologically, Dr Ravul Jindal, director, Vascular Surgery, Fortis Hospital, said during a function to mark World Diabetes Day. He said a diabetic patient could have an array of consequences such as diabetic foot, blindness, limb amputation, heart disease, kidney failure and early death. “It’s a very common and major problem in India these days,” Dr Jindal said while suggesting certain tests for diabetic neuropathy such as filament test, quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction studies. — TNS

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