Media Release

Mumbai, Nov 30: A world diabetes programmme was organized on November 27 from 8 am to 9 pm by Lion Chandrahas Shetty (convenor)-Lions Clubs Int and Dr Abhay Mutha of DCRF (Diabetes Care andResearch Foundation). 

This year’s program was began with Special Rally of 2500 persons from Sarasbaug –Tilak Road- Ganesh Kala Krida Sabhagriha to raise awareness about child hood diabetes.

Famous cricketer Chandu Borde , Actress Neha Pendse along with Lion Dist. 323/D-2 Governor B L Joshi, Vice –Dist. Governor Rathod, past governor Narendra Bhandari , Lion Chandrahas Shetty , Member of lions clubs , members of DCRF, school children Childhood diabetic patient s, Doctors, Chemist association, Ruby Hall Staff, Nurses, etc participated in the mega rally.

Lion Chandrahas Shetty convenor of this mega programme, welcomed all the guests and audience who swelled the Ganesh Kala Auditorium of the capacity to the tune of 3200 persons.

He applauded the role of Lions Clubs in spreading Awareness of Diabetes. He also declared and donated an initial amount of Rs 75,000/- to the Diabetes Care & Research Foundation on behalf of Lions Clubs to look after the expenses of adopted Type One Diabetes Poor Children.

He said, “this is only the beginning and Lions are planning to set up Diabetes Research Centre and Diabetes retinopathy centre to combat the after effects of Diabetes”.

He also mentioned that two Dialysis Centers with 10 machines are already operative in Pune where only Rs 200/- to Rs 400/- was charged for poor patients, where as private clinics are charging Rs 1500/- per cycle of Dialysis.

Lion Chandrahas Shetty was awarded “ International President’s Certificate by International Director MJF Lion Narendra Bhandari in the presence of Chandu Borde and olympic medalist Gagan Narang for organizing this programme continuously from 2004 which is one among the best in the world with regards diabetes awareness.

Chandu Borde in his address stated that instead of losing hope, change your life style as per the advice of Doctors. He also advised the audience to get inspired from the life of cricketer Yuvraj Singh who fought cancer.

Gagan Narang said that when he failed to get the Olympic Medal in 2008, his mother was so stressed that she was diagnosed with Diabetes. He also said, “stress is the outcome of change in lifestyle. If managed properly we can keep diabetes at bay”.

Yoga Therapist Dr Renu Mehtani demonstrated power Yoga to combat Diabetes.      

Eshant Shewte seventeen year old swimmer from Pune a childhood diabetic has been awarded with Life Time Achievement Award.

This year’s focus was on  Childhood Diabetes Awareness . Diabetologist Dr Abhay Mutha gave  a special talk and slide show on this subject along with a live demo on Diabetes and yoga by renowned Yoga therapist Dr Renu Mehtani.

DCRF had also arranged a special Mega Exhibition on Diabetes Awareness at the same venue. This exhibition included more than 25 stalls where people got detailed information along with all the Diabetes related checkups free of cost.

A live demo on exercise and diet in Diabetes, Free books lets were also given at the exhibition. 
Dr Abhay Mutha in his presentation said that there is rapid rise in diabetes all over the world and especially in south –East Asia and India has become the capital of diabetes which harbors 60 to 80 Million Diabetics out of 150 million in the world today.

This figure will reach 300 million in 2025 and it will be around 100 Millions in our Country. In India diabetes is growing both in urban (14%) and Rural (6-7%) area.

“The serious fact is rapid increase in prevalence of childhood diabetes from 5-6% to 8-9% in last few years. There is a serious lack of awareness about this type of diabetes in our community today”, he said.

The important reason for rise in Type 2 Diabetes is mainly related to the wrong lifestyle adopted today.

It includes sedentary jobs , lack of exercise , westernization of our dietary habits which include more of transfat , less fiber , More sugars ( Junk food) stress of modern living all causing increase in obesity which is affecting children too( 16%).

This change in lifestyle is resulting in increasing incident of diabetes, Hypertension, Increase lipids, Increasing obesity and certain cancers too.

“A country like ours cannot afford to have this rise in epidemic of diabetes since it is leading to serious increase in diabetes related complications and lots of morbidity and mortality” he stated.

All these factors have seriously caused a huge burden on our economics too.