CMC organises walkathon to create awareness on World Diabetes Day

Ludhiana, November 14, 2017: World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating threat posed by diabetes to the health of the people. This year the focus is on women with diabetes. Currently there are 199 million women living with diabetes in the world and the number will increase to 313 million by 2040.
The program was organised by the Endocrine and Diabetes Department at Christian Medical College and Hospital which was set up in 2004 by DrJubbin Jacob and has since then been providing daily diabetic clinic along with diabetic education, foot assessement and foot care.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Jubbin said, women are particularly vulnerable to the major complications associated with diabetes and run a six to eight fold risk of heart disease in the presence of diabetes compared to not having diabetes. This is in contrast to men with diabetes who only have double the risk of heart disease. Additionally women with diabetes have an increased risk of breast and uterine cancers. Women in the reproductive age group face additional challenges in managing safe pregnancy when they have pre-exisiting diabetes. The primary reason for more women developing diabetes include excessive weight gain and retention of weight with consequetive pregnancies and the fact that women are generally more likely to be inactive due to current societal norms.
For this world diabetes day (WDD)Christian Medical College and Hospital focused on improving physical activity among women of all ages by organising the Walkathon at CMC. There were two routes taken for the walkathon, a longer 4 kilometer route for the more physically able, younger women and a shorter 2 kilometer route for the older women with poor excerise tolerance. The younger group which consisted of over 30 women was ably led by our dynamic house doctor Dr Alma Joseph who was instrumental in motivating a large number of women to attempt this walkathon. The older group of women was led by medical interns and consisted of 15 women. This included some women who were attempting a walk for the first time.
The event started at 7 am with registration and the participants left in two groups. Both groups met at the Mini rose garden and walked back to the hospital together. After the walk, a light healthy packed breakfast was provided and patients who had not had a recent glycosylated heamoglobin were provided the test free of cost. Glycosylated heamoglobin or HbA1c test is currently the best method to assess chronic control of diabetes and a value of between 6.5-7% in patients with diabetes is considered to denote excellent sugar control. The blood testing was provided by the department of biochemistry led by the current head Dr Maria Thomas. While this was going on an interactive question answer session was conducted to clear common questions about diabetes and the benefits of exercise and life style changes.