Adoption of a healthier lifestyle by around 72 million people with diabetes in the country can prevent the incidence of type-2 cases by 70% in patients, experts said.
Terming diabetes as a leading cause of blindness, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and lower limb amputation in many countries, they said screening of diabetes complication is an important part of effective management of the disease.
If the complication of the disease is diagnosed at the primary stage, substantial disability and premature death can be checked, the speakers said.
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Inaugurating the meet organised by city-based Kanungo Institute of Diabetes Specialities (KIDS) and Cuttack Diabetes Research Foundation (CDRF), Odisha’s Industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra said lifestyle changes had caused diabetes in over 10% of the population in the state which has over 40 lakh diabetes patients.
Emphasising on the need for concrete steps to deal with the disease, he said Odisha government is providing diabetic medicines free of cost under the Niramaya scheme.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Alok Kanungo, chairman of the organising committee said, apart from other objectives, the conference aims at educating treating physicians serving in rural and remote areas where health care facilities and infrastructure are either deficient or not available.
Prof Dr C B Sanjeevi, head of diabetes immunology group, Karolinska University, Stockholm, Sweden also addressed the conference attended by around 600 delegates from across the country.
Lifetime achievement award was presented to four noted diabetologists on the occasion for outstanding contribution to diabetes care, Research and Education.
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