Dharamshala: The Health Education Desk of the Department of Health, CTA observed World Diabetes Day on 14th November at Gangkyi and across the Tibetan Settlements through Tibetan Primary Health Care Centers and individual nurses stationed at smaller settlements.
According to World Diabetes Federation, currently, there are 537 million diabetic patients, and half of them are undiagnosed. It is estimated that around 1 in 10 people worldwide is diabetic. They have reported that in 2021, around 6.7 million people died from diabetic complications.
According to the Health Information System(HIS) section of the Department in the Tibetan exile community in India, there will currently be 796 Tibetan diabetic patients in 2021. However, this data misses all the patients who do not visit the Primary Health Care Centers under the Department. So, the estimated actual data is higher than this. Diabetes is also among the five most common diseases in the Tibetan community in India, according to HIS.
The Health Education Section of the Department of Health coordinated with the Tibetan Settlement Offices and the Tibetan Primary Health Care Centers to raise awareness of Diabetes and help prevent its complications. Around 18 settlements, namely Bonsai, Mundgod, Poanta, Puruwala, Gangtok, Bangalore, Hunsur, Ladakh, Odisha, Herpertpur, Mandi, Dekyiling, Dalhor, Kollegal, Mainpat, Bir, Bhandhara and Dharamshala, the department was able to reach more than 1296 people. The program is funded by USAID.
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. The body breaks down most of the food into sugar (glucose) and releases it into the bloodstream. When the blood sugar increases, it signals the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is key to letting the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.
With diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Too much blood sugar stays in the bloodstream when there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin. Over time, that can cause serious health problems like heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can help.
–Filed by the Department of Health