BHUBANESWAR: The incidence of Type-2 diabetes cases can be prevented by 70 per cent if people living with the disease adopt a healthier lifestyle. Screening of diabetes complication is an important part of effective management of the disease, said speakers at a conference on diabetes here on Saturday.
Inaugurating third National Update on Clinical Diabetes (NUCD) - 2016, organised by Kanungo Institute of Diabetes Specialities (KIDS) and Cuttack Diabetes Research Foundation (CDRF), Minister for Industries, School and Mass Education Debi Prasad Mishra said dealing with diabetes has become a major cause of concern these days.
"More than 10 per cent population of Odisha are suffering from diabetics due to change in lifestyle. Every measure should be taken to combat this disease," he said adding that the State Government has been providing diabetic medicines free of cost under Niramaya scheme.
The Minister advised to take advantage of new healthcare policy announced by the Government to provide healthcare facilities in the State.
More than 40 lakh people are living with diabetes in Odisha now. In many countries, diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and lower limb amputation.
If the complication of the disease is diagnosed at primary stage, the substantial disability and premature death can be checked.
Chairman of the organising committee Dr Alok Kanungo said the conference aims at educating treating physicians serving in rural and remote areas where healthcare facilities and infrastructure are either deficient or not available.
Prof CB Sanjeevi, head of diabetes immunology group, Karolinska University, Stockholm, Sweden and Vice-Chairman of KIDS Dr Mamata Tripathi also spoke.