The Diabetic Foot Society of India kicked off its 15th annual conference in the city on Friday. The 5th Chennai Advanced Wound Care Conference is also being held simultaneously. Themed around ‘Clarity among Variety’, the conference is bringing together a variety of specialists, including diabetologists, podiatrists, plastic surgeons, orthopaedics, as well as physiotherapists and others, to share their expertise, said organising chairman of the conference and vice-president of the society, V.B. Narayanamurthy.
Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said the government had begun population-based screening for non-communicable diseases in three blocks. “We do opportunistic screening for non-communicable diseases, which involves checking anyone over the age of 30, who comes to a healthcare centre. But now, we have trained health workers, who visit homes, and who are now checking individuals for blood pressure and blood sugar levels,” he said.
About 15% of those with diabetes get foot ulcers, said Rajesh Kesavan, secretary of the society. Doctors stressed the need to look after your feet as you would your face. One big challenge, they said, was that most people did not wear footwear inside their homes. With a loss of sensation, patients often do not realise they have a wound, and therefore seek medical help late, they said.
The conference has about 15 international faculty members, and over 2,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, which will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
