Having enthralled a cricket-loving nation for more than two decades, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was seen in a slightly different match, where his opponent was diabetes.
The master blaster, who was named as the brand ambassador by diabetes care company Novo Nordisk for their ‘Changing Diabetes’ campaign, emphasised the importance of diet and exercise in order to control this growing pandemic.
“My wife is a doctor, so occasionally we discuss medicine and I learn a lot from her. Sometime ago, we were discussing the issue of diabetes. At that point of time the prevalence of diabetes in India million and now this number has increased to 69 million, which is an alarming sign,” said Sachin, during his brief visit to the city on Monday.
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These numbers are not something we can proud of. In order to bring these numbers down, we need to change our mindset. In India, we tend to take our health for granted. We have this ‘Chalta Hai’ attitude and this must be stopped. Just by ignoring the problem, it will not go away,” stressed Sachin.
In India, it estimated that 123.5 million people will have diabetes and what’s even more alarming is that an estimated 35 million people are unaware that they have diabetes.
Sachin, who is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, says daily work-out is an absolute must.
“The easiest way to avoid diabetes is to hit the gym every day. If you cannot go to a gym, then at least make it a habit to walk or jog everyday. Either way, outdoor activities are a must,” he advised.
Sachin, who shattered all records in his remarkable journey as a cricketer, also advised people to watch their diet to control diabetes.
“It’s important to eat smartly. This doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy food. We all like to eat and even sportsmen eat all kinds of food, occasionally. But you cannot eat such food everyday -- one must strike a balance. And whenever you eat unhealthy food, it’s important to work out even harder the next day,” the cricketer emphasised.
A recipient of the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, Sachin urged people to join him in the fight against diabetes. “Let’s win this match together,” he signed off.
Novo Nordisk has partnered with various government institutions to increase awareness and educate people about diabetes and need for early detection. It has also initiated ‘Changing Diabetes’ in children, a programme designed to improve access to diabetes care for children with Type-1 diabetes.