Srinagar:  To mark the World Diabetes Day, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Tuesday held a free diabetes screening cum awareness camp at Gulgam village of district Kupwara.

“A team of doctors screened over 800 persons out of which 12 new cases of diabetes were detected with majority of them females and aged above 45 years,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a communiqué.

“Most of the newly diagnosed diabetics were obese and with unhealthy diet habits,” he added.

Dr Nisar said the camp received a large number of already diagnosed diabetics who were uncontrolled because of non-adherence to treatment.

He said diabetics were sensitized for self-monitoring of sugars and made aware of complications of diabetes.”

Free medicines were distributed among patients and diagnostic tests like lipid profile, thyroid function tests, hepatitis B, C and HIV were done free of cost.

“Almost 90 – 95% of cases of diabetes are a result of harmful life-style choices,” said Dr Nisar while speaking to the gathering at the screening camp.

He said the aim of the camp was to promote awareness among public on diabetes and encourage people to adopt healthy life style.

“With good life-style, bulk of the cases of diabetes can be avoided,”  he informed.

 Dr Nisar said there is an epidemic of diabetes in Kashmir.

“Everyone has a car, there is little physical activity and we love our rice and meat. That is dangerous,”  he noted.

 Dr Nisar said diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and lower limb amputation.

“Healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining normal body weight are ways to prevent diabetes,” he pointed out.

 Dr Nisar said the theme of world diabetes day 2017 is women and diabetes.

“Women are the gatekeepers of household nutrition and life-style habits and therefore have the potential to drive prevention from the household and beyond,” he said.

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