A bicycle rally, food exhibition, and various competitions marked the diabetes awareness programme organised by the Tiruchi Railway Division in the city on Thursday.
Manjula Ranganathan, Divisional Railway Manager, flagged off the rally and later declared open the exhibition.
While the rally commenced from Railway Divisional Office, the exhibition and competitions were conducted in the Golden Rock Railway Hospital.
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Various posters with information useful for diabetics such as risk factors for diabetes, signs, and symptoms of the condition, management of diabetes, foods to be avoided by diabetics, glycaemia index (an index that measures how quickly blood sugar levels rise after consumption of the food) of foods, and the importance of fibre were displayed as part of the exhibition.
Models of fruits and vegetables as well as actual products such as biscuits and cakes were placed in each section alongside the posters. Slogans and drawings by schoolchildren about the importance of a balanced diet, exercise pyramid, and disadvantages of smoking, were displayed.
Doctors of Golden Rock Railway Hospital spoke about diabetes and its significance. The causes of diabetes, types, and common symptoms were discussed. Participants were enlightened about the disease and its management.
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Drawing, slogan writing, and cooking competitions were organised. In the drawing competition for children of railway employees, S. Mugilarasan, S. Martin, and Shanmuga Priya bagged the first three prizes.
In the slogan writing competition, M. Palani won the prize for Tamil, Ramya for English, and S. Seethalakshmi for Hindi.
Culinary experts had to prepare a healthy vegetable salad using seven ingredients from among 20 provided to them. Gandhimathi won the first prize in the cooking competition.
As part of the World Diabetes Day, the Medical Department of Tiruchi Division organised a bicycle rally, which was flagged off by Ms. Rangarajan in the presence of S.A. Abdul Rahman, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, and S.G. Madhwesh, chief medical superintendent, Golden Rock Railway Hospital.
Over 200 volunteers comprising members of Scouts and Guides, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, and staff of Tiruchi division participated in the rally.
Creating awareness among children and youth about the symptoms of diabetes was the objective of the campaign.