Hubballi: Diabetes wing at KIMS to be operational in a few months

HUBBALLI: Its hand full with tackling the pandemic, the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi was unable to proceed on schedule to complete the comprehensive diabetic care project. But for the Covid-19 crisis, the diabetic centre in the hospital’s OPD wing would have been functional by now.
The plan to set up a comprehensive diabetic care unit at KIMS was conceived of three years ago, and the hospital administrators had been confident of having the wing ready for full-fledged operations at the outpatient department of the gynaecology wing. The OPD of the gynaecology block was to be shifted.
KIMS director Dr Ramalingappa Antartani recalled that doctors from the orthopaedic, ophthalmology, neurology and other departments had been imparted special training so as to be able to lend their expertise when the dedicated diabetes wing was set up.
“One or the other reasons stalled the setting up of the block over the years. This year, it was the pandemic that delayed its completion. We have the required space at OPD centre, the necessary facilities, trained doctors and nursing staff. It will be ready in two to three months,” Dr Antartani told TOI.
Pointing to the need for the dedicated wing, Dr Antartani said that diabetic patients needed constant monitoring, which involved their having to undergo regular blood and other tests, which was bound to cost them considerably. “Diabetes patients often suffer from problems such as neuropathy, kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, foot damage among other problems owing to their failure to take on the steep expenses that the treatment entails. In order to help poor diabetes patients, KIMS wanted to provide treatment at an affordable price,” he added.
Comprehensive treatment
Pointing out that diabetes was a chronic condition, he said that the patients’ blood sugar level needed to be monitored constantly, KIMS doctors said, “Furthermore, they need to be made aware of the problems that may result from the condition. The dedicated centre will provide comprehensive medical treatment.”
They added that facilities to treat diabetic retinopathy and eye diseases resulting from the condition were functioning at the ophthalmology wing of KIMS.