Over 18 per cent of adults in Chennai are diabetic but only 12 per cent of them have the disorder under control, said V. Mohan, Chairman of Dr.Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre.
“Public education is the urgent need of the hour,” he said at a press conference organised to announce ‘Diabetes 2010' — the diabetes public awareness event in Chennai. This year's diabetes awareness exhibition to be held at Rani Meyyammai Hall, Egmore next week will have ‘Take control of your diabetes now' as its theme.
“The entry for this exhibition is free. It is an opportunity to gather a wide range of information on diabetes,” said Dr. Mohan. The exhibition will be inaugurated at 5 p.m. on July 29. It will be on till August 1.
Over 30 stalls would educate the public on diabetes and related issues. Models, posters, charts, photographs, video and audio, computer aided programmes, multimedia presentations, yoga demonstrations, puppet show, cultural and quiz programmes would be used to create awareness on diabetes.
Blood screening for diabetes will be free for the first 100 visitors every day at the exhibition, said Dr.Mohan. Screening for other diabetic complications will also be done.
A diet museum with live demonstration of diet and recipe for diabetics would be an attraction. Books and educational materials related to diabetes would be available at the exhibition.