As far as diabetes is concerned, it is a well-researched fact that Indians are genetically more prone to diabetes, than their Western counterparts.
When it comes to healthcare, the experts have a simple advice for women — talk about it. “That’s the only way women can raise awareness and be heard. If you don’t talk about it, the world will not bother to help,” said Dr Sonalini Mirchandani, Country Director, Health Communication Partnership/ Johns Hopkins University, India.
Mirchandani was among the panel of HIV/AIDS and diabetes experts, who deliberated upon the ways and means to alleviate two of the major health issues that India is currently facing, at a ‘Healthcare and Wellness’ seminar, organised by the IMC Ladies’ Wing, on Thursday, to commemorate International Women’s Day.
An expert on issues that people, particularly women and children, face due to their HIV+ve status, Mirchandani said, “Women’s Day, which the world observed on Thursday, is not about gender equality or women’s solidarity. It is about ‘inclusiveness’ and about women who want and deserve to be included in the decision-making process in their lives.”
Dr YK Hamied, Chairman & MD, Cipla Ltd — also among the panellists — guaranteed that his company would reduce the price of anti-retroviral drugs and even bring in new ‘anti-AIDS’ drugs to India. He also promised to offer affordable treatment options to HIV+ve persons. “Apart from the drugs to battle AIDS, India needs to emphasise on family planning on a war footing. Hence, my advice to Indian women, whether it is in the cities or in rural areas, is to plan their family. This decision is in their hands,” said Hamied.
As far as diabetes is concerned, it is a well-researched fact that Indians are genetically more prone to diabetes, than their Western counterparts. “No wonder then that India is the diabetes capital of the world, with about 3 crore diabetics,” said Dr Shaukat Sadikot, well-known endocrinologist. By 2025, that figure will go up to 5.7 crore — an increase of 190 per cent, he warned.
His advice: Change your lifestyle. “It is easier said than done to go on a successful diet, but my advice is: give it a shot. Cut oil used in recipes by half. And exercise every day,” said Sadikot. Ophthalmologist Dr Kulin Kothari, who specialises in diabetes and vision added, “If you are a diabetic, you are at 25 per cent more risk of losing vision. So keep your diabetes in check if you want to see the world.”
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