On World Diabetes Day, Talk & Walk in Polo Ground

To raise awareness & promote active lifestyles to combat diabetes, Columbia Asia Hospital Patiala along with District Sports Department and Polo Ground Friends Club, organized a special programme on World Diabetes Day under the banner “Our Right to a Healthy Future” in the historic Polo Ground of Patiala.

The programme was formally inaugurated by prominent citizens including Sh. K.K. Sharma, Chairman Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, District Sports Officer Upkar Singh Virk, Managing Director of Chardikala Group Jagjit Singh Dardi and Chief Coordinator of the event Dr DS Bhullar.

Dr Inderpreet Kaur (MD, DM) consultant endocrinologist and diabetes (sugar) specialist from Columbia Asia Hospital, the key speaker delivered a talk on the theme of the day “Women & Diabetes” by WHO and said that Punjab accounts for one of the biggest Diabetic population states in India, with diabetes prevalence of 14 per cent in the state as compared to the prevalence of only 9 per cent in rest of India. Lack of awareness about the disease and its health complications, delayed diagnosis, myths surrounding diabetes management and irregular treatment makes detection and management of this disease extremely difficult with physically inactive and sedentary lifestyle being the main reasons in the surge of this modern epidemic in India.

We need massive awareness programs to prevent diabetes. We have to teach people about the need for staying fit and exercising. Walking is the easiest form of exercising. We also need to educate them about the causes, symptoms and cures of diabetes. We also need to convey the guidelines about controlling diabetes and related co-morbidities like blood pressure and lipid disorders that prevent various other health problems along with screening to avoid dreadful health complications, said Dr Inderpreet Kaur.  More than 500 people prominently women participated in the programme which concluded with a marathon walk in the ground.