Key Activities Area » World Daibetes Day Celebration

Cuttack Diabetes Research Foundation observed the World Diabetes Day on November 14 with a view to make everyone aware of the menace. A walkathon, interaction with physicians, awareness camp and Diabetes detection camps were all part of the event that was organized by the hospital to sensitize the common mass.

In the inaugural meeting, the podium was graced by Forest and Environment Minister, Debi Prasad Mishra, state nodal officer for non-communicable diseases Dr. P.K.B Pattnaik, Dr. Alok Kanungo, MD K.I.D.S hospital, Dr. S.K.Sen, VP Medical Sciences (K.I.D.S) and Dr. Mamata Tripathy.

"This disease is gateway to many other diseases and one of the causes behind multi-organ failure. We need to act on war-footing to save ourselves. Our focus should be on rural areas where the need of attention is the most. Besides the number of Diabetic patients in such areas has been increasing steadily". Said Mr.Mishra.

Also the need of hour is to alter our lifestyle and have sound sleep and healthy food. One mere thing that we need to work on is that treatment should be affordable as diabetes warrants expensive treatment, if complications arise, the minister added.

The walkathon that took off near Master-Canteen and ended at Jayadev Bhawan was attended by more than 400 participants, mostly from colleges and educational institutions.

Even individuals suffering from Diabetes came to boost the morale of the runners. A couple in their Sixties, both suffering from Diabetes also came to witness the walkathon and described their experiences. "It has been more than 15 years since the day we were diagnosed with diabetes. I feel that this disease owes its existence to junk food rather than anything else. Also strain and stress are factors that have helped number of diabetes patients grew by big numbers every year. The fact that we have become mere consumers, money-centric and career oriented, which is leading us nowhere. "said Navin Chandra Sahu, a cost accountant.

"A few years back I decided to turn into an agriculturist, and now I own a small nursery. It is giving me a lot of satisfaction. No matter what you achieve or where you reach, everything will be gone. I was diagnosed with diabetes after my son's untimely death. Perhaps it was stress. But one must understand health and well being is above everything else." He added.

His wife Dr. Bharati Adhikari, a physician also suffering from diabetes, shared her experiences. "I thought I can't be a victim of Diabetes. I knew about it, but somehow unknowingly invited the disease. One should exercise caution in this regard. It can happen to anybody. " She said.

"Look at the present generation. Kids are hook on to TV for hours together, watching cricket, Cartoons and other entertainments. Also our food is heavily dosed with pesticides and heavy content of fertilizers. This was not the way we lived 25 years ago. She added. World famous Hockey player, Padmasree Dilip Tirky who led the walkathon said "Diabetes is a silent killer. People casually take Diabetes but are unknown about the fact that it hideously affects other vital organs of the body and may lead to untimely death. In every possible way, we should stay away from junk food."

When asked about exercise of not having time for exercise. Dilip said "It's a wrong notion. Exercise is must, else one has to face the devastating consequences of diabetes. The problem is that we haven't adopted sports culture yet. We like to watch, but avoid performing. Anyway, on this day everyone must take a pledge to keep themselves healthy.

In an interaction with more than 500 strong audiences at Jayadev Bhawan, Dr. Kanungo said "the slogan of the Diabetes Day being 'ACT ON DIABETES NOW, has to be taken seriously. More than the number of Diabetes patients, the figure of physicians and paramedic staffs competent to treat the disease is a matter of concern. He added that hopefully everyone would work towards making more manpower available to control the spread of the disease.

A number of connoisseur, luminaries also shared values on the occasion to control over the pandemic at the earliest. Students and volunteers from different institutions participated in good number in the interaction session and expressed their thoughts. The dieticians of K.I.D.S hospital were generating awareness on the message 'Eat Health to stay Healthy' and distributing knowledge among the gathered mass about the benefits of low calorie, low card diet.

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