27 diabetes clinics to be opened

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will open 27 specialized diabetes clinics, one in every ward in the city. The service will be launched on November 14 on World Diabetes Day.
According to BMC officials it is estimated around 15% of the city’s population suffers from this lifestyle disease. Apart from offering random blood sugar tests at these clinics, the BMC’s endocrinologists will visit these clinics once a week to treat diabetics.For advanced tests the patient will be referred to a peripheral or civic hospital.
Dr Shashank Joshi, president of the Research Society for Diabetes in India, said such clinics were the need of the hour. Graduate doctors will monitor these clinics on a daily basis. They are to be trained at KEM’s outpatient department for diabetes. “In a number of cases a simple change in lifestyle, dietary habits and exercise can help control the disease” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.
The BMC will organise a walkathon on November 13. The BMC has budgeted Rs 2 crore this year for the programme. “Except for insulin we will provide oral medication for diabetics. It is already on our scheduled list of medicines,” Mhaiskar said.