Aventis Pharma Limited has launched a nation-wide campaign ahead of world diabetes day to educate diabetes patients and their families to control the disease. This year’s campaign is initiated under the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF's) slogan 'let’s take control of diabetes. now.' The objective is to improve patient education to ensure that they understand the complications associated with avoiding or delaying treatment as well as the need to control the disease by maintaining their glycoslated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels under seven.
As one of the official partners of the IDF’s world diabetes day campaign, sanofi-aventis is aligning its nation-wide programme to address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention. The campaign covers over 600 activities ranging from detection drives, patient education programmes, HbA1c camps, diabetes walks and doctor meetings. The aim of these pan-India activities is to achieve greater awareness about the benefits associated with effectively managing the disease and the risks of poor control.
As part of the campaign in Mumbai, various initiatives have been planned across the city to reinforce the importance of regular health check-ups, diet, exercise and the need for timely medical intervention. To kick start the campaign, Dr Nadeem Rais is organising a walkathon on the morning of world diabetes day where 200 participants will walk from Churchgate to Chowpatty Medical Centre.
This is being done to draw the attention of the general public to the importance of a healthy lifestyle and regular health check-ups in preventing diabetes. More importantly, the participation of diabetes patients will symbolise their support to the cause of diabetes awareness, prevention and management.
Dr Nadeem Rais, diabetologist and endocrinologist, Breach Candy said, "Over the past few years the number of diabetics in Mumbai has skyrocketed. Month after month we are seeing more women patients being diagnosed with the disease. At present, the ratio of newly diagnosed patients is 66 per cent female as compared to 34 per cent male patients. There are many factors that make women more prone to developing diabetes such as higher levels of stress, probability of gestational diabetes during pregnancy and even polycystic ovary disease (PCOD). Studies and our own experience has shown that stress is a contributing factor to diabetes.”
Rais further adds, "Another contributing factor to diabetes is Vitamin D deficiency. Analysis of data at our clinic has shown that of 1029 people screened over three months from December 2009 to February 2010 the prevalence amongst both genders was as high as 83 per cent. Hence, it is important for people to have a holistic approach to health and the management of diabetes focusing on maintaining the quality of life rather than trying to treat the disease after its occurrence."
Dr Anil Boraskar, panel member of IDF and secretary scientific section, Diabetes Association of India (DAI) said, “Cases of juvenile diabetes are rising in direct proportion with our urban lifestyle standards. Besides this, unhealthy food products causes childhood obesity situation. While the health of a juvenile diabetic child is of concern, the biggest hurdle for parents of juvenile diabetics is the inability to understand exactly how the child is feeling or what he is going through emotionally. Though nearly overall children are suffering from juvenile diabetes, most people do not understand the gravity of the situation or the impact it can have on a child’s life if he or she is not given correct treatment.”
S L Raheja Hospital has also organised a walkathon from Shivaji Park to S L Raheja Hospital, Mahim. Over 200 diabetics are expected to participate in this. Apart from this, events organized at the hospital will focus on the growing incidence of juvenile diabetes. Recently Andheri based Seven Hills Hospital had also organised an event for young patients.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, India had 32 million diabetic subjects in the year 2000 and this number would increase to 80 million by the year 2030. The IDF has reported that the 50.8 million diabetic subjects in India in 2010 would rise to 87 million by the year 2030. It is quite evident from the above observations that diabetes has become a major health problem in India.
Diabetes imposes life-long demands on people living with diabetes and their families. Because people with diabetes do better when they take active control of their own care, it is of paramount importance that they receive ongoing, high-quality diabetes education that is tailored to their needs and delivered by skilled health professionals.