Healthy Life Diabetes Clinic gets the Corporates together to fight diabetes

World Diabetes Day 2007 was celebrated by the corporate sector by bringing to the general public the first of its kind, a diabetes exhibition and medical camp for children and adolescents with diabetes. It was organised by Healthy Life Diabetes Clinic and sponsored by Life Insurance Cooperation, Ahmed Tea, VSNL Lanka, Brandix, Public Bank, Sincon, and HNB.

This exhibition was a huge success with the participation of over 500 people from the general public. The whole program was entirely free for the public. The Theme of the world diabetes day was Unite for Diabetes and the whole programme was conducted along those lines. It was held at the BMICH, and started with a free blood sugar measurement and assessment of body mass index. Children and adolescents with diabetes underwent a full medical check-up, dental and an eye examination entirely free. This was also extended to adults who had very high blood sugars and complications. Staff and doctors from Healthy Life Diabetes Clinic systematically screened the patients for major complications and problems and advised them appropriately. Dental assessment and minor treatment were done by Consultant Dental Surgeon, Dr Dhanusha Jeyaraj of Healthy Life.

Staffs from Royal Opticians were available to check visual acuity and advised appropriate eye wear while consultant opthalmologists, Prof. Stephen, Dr Nalin Rajakaruna & Dr Meena Radhakrishnan examined the patients and gave eye care advice. While this was going on Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Pujitha Wickremasinghe gave a stimulating lecture on Diabetes and Obesity. He highlighted the need for healthy diet and an active life style from the early ages to curb the current growing trend of type 2 diabetes. This was followed by a question and answer session where common questions by the public regarding diabetes were addressed by Consultant Physician, Dr Kayathri Periasamy.

The second part of the program was a series of demonstrations, where the public could walk about and interact with different booths displaying diabetes products, and meeting various specialists from the diabetes team, the consultants. Diet and exercise are key factors in controlling diabetes. Exercise and physical training for good health was discussed by the trainer from the Power World Gym. A cooking demonstration was conducted by Chef Publis of Mount Lavinia Hotel. Here not only did he talk about the better foods to eat but ha also showed the public how it can be prepared. Healthy Life’s specialist dietitian Miss Ramya was in hand to answer questions about food and a children’s food quiz was held. There were demonstrations and sampling of diabetic supplement such as the Kurakkan Crunch of Daintee, Glucerna by Abbots, Resource Diabetic by Nestle Nutrition. Appliances for Diabetes such as glucometers and insulin pens were displayed by Johnson and Johnson and Novo Nordisk. Lastly the children and their parents were treated to a fabulous magic show by Mr. Nalindra Perera (who is also in the Pharmaceutical trade). After this Blue and white balloons were released by the children to symbolise their unity in defeating diabetes. This program was very necessary and timely in this country which has a diabetes prevalence of 10 – 15 % and is steadily growing. Diabetes is also fast becoming the number one killer through heart attacks and strokes, and is also the cause of much misery by way of blindness, amputations and kidney failure.

All in all it was a successful exhibition with many loud and clear take home messages about diabetes and what the public can do to curb and control this disease. See Image Gallery of Anniversary events