Speciality Centre to celebrate World Diabetes Day on Nov 14

Tiruchirapalli, Nov 11: The Trichy Diabetes Speciality Centre would celebrate the 'World Diabetes Day' with a campaign on November 14, to raise awareness about the rising prevalence of Diabetes.

Talking to newspersons here yesterday, Centre's Chairman M Shanmugavelu said the campaign would aim to increase the number of children supported by the IDF Life for Child Programme, raise awareness on the warning signs of Diabetes, encourage initiatives to reduce Diabetic Ketoacidosis and distribute materials to support the initiatives and promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent Diabetes in children.

He said Diabetes was now a global epidemic with debilitating and life threatening complications.

Dr Shanmugavelu said Type-one Diabetes was growing by three per cent every year in children and adolescents and at an alarming rate of five per cent every year among pre-school children. It was estimated that worldwide 70,000 children under-15, develop type-one Diabetes every year, he added.

He said of the estimated 440,000 children aged-14 or under with type-one Diabetes, over 25 per cent live in South-East Asia and more than 20 per cent in Europe.

The Doctor said Global incidence of type-two Diabetes for children may increase upto 50 per cent over the next 15 years. This form of Diabetes was once seen as an adult-only disease, but the fact is that childhood obesity was a fore-runner of Diabetes, he added.

He said according to a recent study, there was an emerging epidemic of type-two Diabetes in children and adolescent age-group, because of the rapid ongoing lifestyle changes.

Dr Shanmugavelu said in connection with the campaign, the Centre would also organise a one-day exhibition, explaining about the medications, food and other useful information suitable for Diabetic patients.

UNI