With diabetes becoming a “family disease” that can potentially affect every household-emotionally as well as financially, this year’s World Diabetes Day on Wednesday will highlight the role of caregivers in supporting the people living with the chronic disease.
Aptly themed ‘Diabetes concerns every family,” by the International Diabetes Federation and WHO, the two-year-long awareness programmes will focus on raising awareness on the impact that diabetes has on the family, besides promoting the role of the family in diabetes management, care, prevention and education.
“Families have a key role to play in addressing the modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle including regular physical activity, a healthy and balanced diet, and the promotion of healthy living environments,” said an official from the Health Ministry.
Hence it is important that families are provided with the education, resources, and environments to help the patient live a healthy lifestyle, he said.
The official added that currently, at least 425 million people are living with diabetes. Most of these cases are type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
While the Union Health Ministry has planned a string of programmes focusing on diabetes awareness programmes for the families so that they can help ease the life of the patient, the Ayush Ministry will have a special focus on educational programmes about the role the traditional medicines in ayurveda, Unani and homeopathy can play in controlling the condition.
“There are many scientifically developed anti-diabetic ayurvedic medicines such as BGR-34 developed by CSIR using anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlycemic agents found in commonly used herbs like daruharidra, giloy, gudmar and bitter gourds. Similarly, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Science (CCRAS) and Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) have developed medicines like AYUSH-D and D5 respectively for Diabetes Mellitus,” said an official from the Ayush Ministry.