HEALTH

CMC exhibition on diabetes today
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 13
As many as 25 per cent Indian patients suffer from diabetes and by the year 2025, about 80-90 million people will be affected by the disease. Type 1 diabetes is becoming common among children because of a total absence of insulin in their bodies. Urbanisation, stress, a sedentary lifestyle are some of the factors that have led to an increase in the incidence of diabetes.

Dr Parminder Singh, head, Endocrinology and Diabetes Department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said the people with a family history of diabetes had a higher chance to acquire diabetes in adult stage. This was classified as Type 2 diabetes and was more or less also lifestyle-dependent. A majority of people suffered from Type 2 diabetes. “In India, 12 per cent of diabetic incidence is prevalent above the age of 20 years. Diabetic patients often develop various chronic complications. Besides affecting eyes, heart and limbs, it also leads to renal complications. About 30 per cent of chronic renal failure cases are due to diabetic nephropathy. The incidence of blindness increased 15 times in diabetic patients. Besides, incidence of kidney failure, amputation of limbs and heart attacks increases among patients suffering from diabetes. If the patient controls his blood sugar, the risk of developing other complications reduces by 60 per cent”, said Dr Parminder Singh.

He also stressed that the number of diabetic patients could be much more in the country than the reported ones because of masses by and large were not aware that they could be suffering from the deadly disease.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Christian Medical College and Hospital, said it was estimated that by the year 2025, 300 million people would be diabetic all over the world. The countries projected to have the most cases of diabetes in the year 2025 would be India, China (38 million) and USA (22 million). The greatest increase is expected to occur in India — by about 195 per cent.

Dr Kapoor said November 14 was observed as Diabetes Day the world over. “The emphasis this year is on spreading awareness about acute chronic complications especially relating to renal diseases and spreading awareness on the prevention and control of such diseases among diabetic patients”, he said.

To mark the occasion and to educate the general public, an educational exhibition on diabetes will be held at the CMCH in the main outpatient block here tomorrow. Various diabetes-friendly diets and educational posters will be on display. The exhibition will be open to all and free counselling sessions will be held for the interested people.

Meanwhile, Hero DMC Heart Institute and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital is organising a free diabetes consultation camp in which various experts will provide free consultation to those suffering from diabetes. Heart patients can also avail themselves the services. The camp will be organised in the OPD complex of Hero DMC Heart Institute between 9am to 5pm tomorrow. The registration time will remain between 9am to 1pm.

Diabetologist and endocrinologist, Dr Parminder Singh, cardiologist Dr G.S. Wander, Dr Naresh K. Sood, Dr Vishav Mohan, Dr Naved Aslam, Cardio Thoracic Surgeon Dr V.K. Sharma, Dr D.P. Murik, Dr Sarju Ralhan, Dr Sunil Dhwka will provide their free consultation. Free blood sugar and ECG tests will be done.

Yoga expert Dr S.S. Rawat will also teach yoga techniques for the cure of diabetes and heart diseases. Dieticians Ms Megha Sharma, Ms Harsimrat and Mr Ashu will draft out the diet charts of patients desirous of following a suitable diet pattern keeping in view their disease. There will also be a special cooker/diet show in which various dishes, specially prepared and their methods of preparation will be displayed.

Caffeine bad for health

Are you drinking more coffee? If yes, take care. You should know what is the proper place of caffeine and when to avoid it. One cup of coffee is equivalent to about 75mg of caffeine and one cup of tea to about 30 mg. One can of cola is about 50 mg and in espresso the caffeine content can be 150 mg.

For men with hypertension, stopping drinking may reduce the chance of a stroke, but increase the risk of colorectal cancer. For pregnant women, limiting caffeine consumption will reduce the chance of a spontaneous abortion and low birth weight infant.

Caffeine in pregnancy

A meta-analysis examined the effects of caffeine consumption on spontaneous abortion and low birth weight pregnancies. Spontaneous abortion was defined as expulsion from the uterus of products of conception before about 20 weeks (including foetal loss, foetal death and miscarriage). Low birth weight was defined as less than 2,500 g. The control subjects were women who consumed less than 150 mg of caffeine a day, and exposed women those who consumed more than this. This meant that for every 23 pregnant women who consumed more than two cups of coffee or six cups of tea a day, one would have as spontaneous abortion, who would not have had it they not consumed so much caffeine. The review tells us that caffeine is cleared from the body much less rapidly in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to less than 150 mg a day.

Coffee and stroke

Coffee consumption in hypertensive middle-aged men and the risk of stroke has been examined in a long-term study. Coffee intake was measured in a large cohort of men in the late 1960s, and the incidence of stroke observed over the next 25 years in almost all men in the study.

Of the 499 men, 76 developed a stroke, 55 of which were thrombembolic. After adjusting for age, the risk of thromboembolic stroke, but not haemorrhagic stroke, was significantly related to the amount of coffee consumed. The risk of thromboernbolic stroke was more than doubled in those who consumed three cups of coffee a day as compared to non-drinkers.

Dr Anil Dheer

55 pc kids have dental ailments
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 13
Under the ongoing dental health awareness drive of Christian Dental College (CDC), Ludhiana, a special dental check-up of children of various schools was undertaken by a team of doctors from the CDC.

While talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Dr J.L. Joshi, Principal, Christian Dental College and Hospital, said during the check-ups, it was found that 55 per cent schoolchildren in the age group of 6-12 were suffering from one or more than one dental disease. The most common dental disease amongst the schoolchildren was dental caries which had affected 49 per cent of the children. The gum disease affected 5 per cent of the children while 2 per cent of the children suffered fractures of their teeth.

Dr Joshi further revealed that only 18 per cent of the children brushed their teeth twice a day while 54 per cent brushed their teeth only once a day. Fortyfive per cent of the children had a good oral hygiene while 47.5 per cent of children had an average or fair oral hygiene. Dr Joshi said this dental drive would be continued to cover more schools under this programme and offered concessional treatment to all schoolchildren who sought treatment from the CDC.

During the drive, Dr N.C. Man, Senior Consultant in the department of Community Dentistry of the CDC, gave lectures and demonstrations on importance of oral health, diet and nutrition, oral hygiene practices and advised the children to shun the use of tobacco products, beetle chewing, chewing of pan products and the use of intoxicating drugs and various pan products.

Vidya Mandir students win 10 medals in athletics meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 13
Students of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir School, Udham Singh Nagar here, dominated the track and field events and bagged 10 medals, including five gold, in the District Athletics Championship organised by the Education Department at Khanna from November 10 to 12.

According to Ms Sunil Arora, Principal of the school, Priya Bawa was declared the best athlete (under-17) of Ludhiana during the meet. Priya was at the centrestage and clinched three gold medals. She came out triumphant in 800m, 1500m and 3000m races.

Deepak Kumar won the gold in 1500m while Gautam finished runner-up in the under-17 section. Kirti Sharma bagged the silver medal in the long jump for boys (under-14). Maneet Sharma got the third position in the 400m for boys (under-19).

The school team finished third in the 4x100m relay for girls (under-14) while the boys’ team, with two students of this school, Kanav Sharma and Maneet Sharma lifted the gold. In the boys (under-19), Maneet Sharma of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir School helped his team to win the gold medal in the 4x400m relay race. The girls’ team (under-17) finished runners-up in the same event. Ms Arora congratulated the students and Mr Baljit Singh Gill, sports in charge of the school, on the outstanding performance by the athletes.