'Acceptance, discipline can help deal with diabetes'

NAGPUR: Eminent persons from different walks of life, who are also diabetic, gave a message of acceptance and discipline in the face of diabetes to lead a full life. They were sharing their experiences at an awareness programme 'Hello Diabetes', organized by Diabetes Care and Research Centre (DCRC) and Diabetes Care Foundation of India, on Sunday.
Stressing need for awareness not only about the disease but also other complications which might arise out of diabetes, Dr Sunil Gupta, director of DCRC, said that regular checkups and self care were key to leading a healthy life.Emphasizing on viewing diabetes as a condition rather than a disease, he said, "Accepting diabetes and taking it in your stride will go a long way to lead a full life," he said.
Vice chancellor of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Ved Prakash Mishra, said, "If I didn't had diabetes I don't think I would have been as disciplined as I am today."
Dr Debashish Chatterjee, who conducts diabetes awareness programmes, said, "Discipline is a gift that diabetes gave us. It is also a tool to fight it."
Sharing her story, Sonia Sahita, a young employee who was detected with diabetes even as she was seeking admission to engineering course, said, "I bagged the gold medal in the final year at VNIT. I never hid my condition from any body. Support from my family, friends and doctors has helped me lead a successful life. Diabetes, even for the young, is not the end of the world," she said.
Apart from the skits and presentation, a citizens forum threw light on care to be taken by a diabetic.