The temple city on Friday rallied in one voice to fight diabetes as expert doctors gave a clarion call to people of all ages to treat diabetes as a permanent enemy which should be tackled with urgency.
At the same time, top diabetologists also sent out a positive message that people can have long and healthy life despite having diabetes if they take right control measures, especially in diet.
The resolve to dare diabetes came at the inauguration of three-day education-cum-public awareness event, ‘Diabetes 2012,’ being organised by Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre at Lakshmi Sundaram Hall from August 10 to 12.
Mayor V. V. Rajan Chellappa, who inaugurated the expo, said that it was one of the most important awareness events to have been organised in Madurai as ‘sugar’ was no longer a rich man’s disease and it had no rural-urban distinction.
“This is an opportunity for all of us to directly learn about prevention and control of diabetes rather than depending on others for information. People of Madurai must make use of this chance,” he said after visiting the theme-based stalls at the exhibition.
Explaining the reason for holding a massive expo, V. Mohan, Chairman and Managing Director of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, said that people across India must realise the gravity of the situation since diabetes was not sparing anybody.
“It has become an epidemic as already six crore people in our country are confirmed diabetics. The prevalence rate is 15 to 20 per cent in urban areas while it has become a threat in rural areas also where nearly 10 per cent have got affected with ‘sugar.’ Education and awareness about diabetes should go public,” Dr. Mohan emphasised.
He said that Tamil Nadu had a special place in diabetes prevention and control as the first diabetic clinic was started in Chennai at Stanley Medical College. “Diabetes affects vital parts of our body such as eye, heart and kidney, if proper care is not taken with medicines and diet. In this exhibition, experts will cook and demonstrate the right recipes. You can have a long and healthy life despite diabetes,” Dr. Mohan added.
Eminent diabetologists of Madurai -- A. J. Asirvatham and G. Chandra Mohan -- said that the exhibition was an eye opener for the people and it time to get rid of ignorance by understanding what, why, when and how of diabetes.
“Many people do not know the symptoms of diabetes. Go for ‘sugar’ test and take precautions at right time for leading a healthy life without major complications,” they said.
R. M. Anjana, Joint Managing Director, said that Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre had 2.7 lakh registered diabetics and it was a collaborating centre of World Health Organisation for non-communicable diseases and control. It was also a recognised institution as International Diabetes Federation Centre of Education.
Entry to Diabetes 2012 exhibition is free while on the spot blood sugar test is done at a nominal cost. Healthy food court, theme stalls, yoga demonstration, body fat measurement, cultural programmes, ‘patti mandram,’ display of diabetes food products and demonstration of diet/recipes are some of the highlights of this expo which concludes on Sunday evening.
