Department of Dietetics, CMC Organizes a Continuing Nutrition Education

Ludhiana, September 21, 2018: CMC has always played an important role in creating awareness amongst masses on important health topics. In continuation of this series of educating, the medical professionals, namely dieticians, doctors, nurses and the students, the Department of Dietetics, CMC&H is organizing a Continuing Nutrition Education (CNE). Every year the first week of September is celebrated as National Nutrition Week with a definite theme. This year honourable Prime Minister has announced the month of September to be observed as the National Nutrition Month or ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah’. The topic for today’s CNE is ‘Medical Nutrition Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease with Diabetes.’ Diabetes is fast gaining the status of potential epidemic in India with more than 62 million diabetics currently diagnosed with diabetes. In 2000, India topped the world with the highest number of cases followed by China and United States respectively. It is predicted that by the year 2030 India will lead with a maximum increase in the number of diabetics. So to be able to combat this ever growing problem we all need to join hands and contribute in one way or the other to tackle this issue by making necessary changes in lifestyle. Dr. William Bhatti, Director, Christian Medical College & Hospital, was the chief guest of the occasion and inaugurated the event and appreciated the effort and shared his views. “He said diabetes is a common non-communicable disorder which has long term complications such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most patients with CKD are unaware of how diet influences disease management and progression. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) involves individualised nutrition assessment and dietary education by a dietician with periodic monitoring. MNT plays a significant role in reducing disease progression and the public should be made aware of its importance.” Giving details about the event, Mrs. Ruma Singh, head of Dietary department at CMC, said more than 150 delegates from Punjab, UP, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh,including, dieticians, doctors, nurses and students, participated in this event. Dr. Anil Luther, Medical Superintendent, said it is vital to educate and bring up the awareness to the common man regarding the ever increasing burden of diabetes and its complications. Diet plays a much wider and pervasive role in health and diseases. Diet plays an important role in the management of high blood sugar and its related complications like kidney diseases. Good balanced diet can prevent heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney diseases.” Speaking on the occasion CMC Principal, Dr. Jeyaraj Pandian said that one must follow a healthy lifestyle and appropriate diet to ensure the blood glucose levels remain controlled to prevent any complications to arise. Along with modified diet, regular exercise should be a part of life, not only for diabetics but for everyone. This helps regulate the blood glucose levels properly and maintains normal body weight. Being obese itself is a cause of concern, in fact it is a root cause of several diseases including heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes to name a few.