World Diabetes Day - 2011

Focus on "Neonatal and Infantile Diabetes"

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) have established World Diabetes Day, every year on November 14th, to improve diabetes advocacy worldwide and to promote the global awareness campaign of diabetes prevention and care.

Dr. P. Jeyachandran, Director and Superintendent, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai presided over the function and inaugurated the ‘Neonatal and Monogenic Diabetes Registry’. Dr. V. Poovazhagi, Asst. Prof. of Paediatrics, Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai was honoured for her work in the field of neonatal and juvenile diabetes. The guest of honour for this function was Actor/Producer Mr. T. Prashanth.

Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre (DMDSC) said, “To commemorate this year World Diabetes Day on November 14th, we have organized a very special event to honour our “little stars”, namely children with Neonatal Diabetes.  Neonatal Diabetes is diagnosed within the first 6 months of life. Although it is a rare condition, physicians, diabetologists and pediatricians need to be sensitized about these conditions in children as this condition can otherwise be missed altogether”.

Dr. R.M. Anjana, Jt. Managing Director, DMDSC added “Some of the Neonatal Diabetes children may have genetic mutations and hence we are routinely screening for these mutations. In our attempt to create a National Registry of Neonatal and Monogenic Diabetes, we have started a website called www.neonataldiabetes.in”.  

Dr. Ranjit Unnikrishnan, Vice Chairman, DMDSC added “Identifying these mutations can help us in planning treatment for these children. Some children can even present with Neonatal hypoglycemia or low sugar reactions”.

Dr.Radha Venkatesan, Head, Dept of Genetics at MDRF who carried out the genetic mutations at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation said that “So far about 40 children have been tested with Neonatal Diabetes at their centre. Several novel mutations have been identified”.

Ms. K. Jahnavi, Research Fellow in Genetics at MDRF who carried out the details of the screening gave further details “10 child had the sulphonylurea (SUR) mutations, 3 had KCNJ11 mutations where 3 Insulin gene (INS) mutations”.

Diabetes Fest 2011: Inter School & Inter College Cultural Competition

Photo Gallery

As India prepares to assume its rightful position as one of the leading nations of the world, a major threat is emerging silently that might derail much of the progress we have made over the past few decades. Increasing levels of urbanization and higher levels of income have led to an unprecedented increase in the prevalence of the so called "lifestyle diseases", among which diabetes is a major player. If not detected and treated in time, diabetes can lead to major complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and limb amputation. It is estimated that India has 51 million people living with diabetes as of 2010, and this number is projected to rise to 87 million by the year 2030. It is even more alarming that people are now getting diabetes in their twenties and thirties; this means that many of them will spend the prime of their productive lives grappling with the disease and its complications.

Is there any way we can prevent our youth from falling prey to diabetes? The answer is resounding "YES". The seeds of diabetes are sown in childhood and adolescence. Unhealthy lifestyle choices made during childhood predispose individuals to the development of diabetes later in life. Conversely, healthy habits inculcated in childhood will remain with the individual throughout his or her life and stand him or her in good stead in preventing diabetes. Our youth need to be provided with the right sort of information so that they can be motivated to make healthy lifestyle choices early in life.

For the last two decades, Dr.Mohan's Group of Diabetes Institutions has been at the forefront of the fight against diabetes in India. Our work has thrown light on the magnitude of the problem of diabetes in India and has also helped in increasing public awareness about the disease. To mark the 20th anniversary of our Institutions, we are organizing the first ever "Diabetes Fest" in India from August 2011 onwards. The fest is open to school and college students and consists of exciting events such as painting, fancy dress, dance and quiz, the details of which are given overleaf. The Diabetes Fest 2011 aims at promoting the message of "Diabetes Prevention" through the adoption of healthy diet and lifestyle choices.

HONOURING 50 YEARS SURVIVORS OF DIABETES BY DR.MOHAN’S DIABETES SPECIALITIES CENTRE, CHENNAI

At a special function on Saturday, September 10th, 2011 at Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre (DMDSC) auditorium, Dr.V.Mohan and his colleagues at DMDSC honoured diabetic patients treated at their centre who maintained good health after 50 years of diabetes and by conferring on them “Golden Jubilee Victory Over Diabetes Award”. During the function, nine such achievers received the awards from the Chief Guest Dr.V.Shanta, Chairman Cancer Institute (WIA) Chennai. His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, ‘Prince of Arcot’ presided over the function and presented the certificates to the achievers. Dr. S. V. Chitti Babu, Former Vice Chairman T.N. State Council for Higher Education and Former Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamarajar University and Annamalai University himself a long term diabetes survivor, was the ‘Guest of Honour’.

Dr V Mohan, Chairman, DMDSC who created this award, said “To mark the 20th anniversary of our Institutions, we have instituted this award to honour long term survivors of diabetes who have lived health lives with diabetes for 50 years or longer. A total of 27 patients registered at our centre have lived for more than 50 years with diabetes. Of these 27 patients 14 are still alive of whom 8 are being honoured at this function as the other 6 patients could not make it to the function. 13 other patients survived 50 years when they were last seen at our centre but they have since either expired or are lost presently follow up. In addition, another 275 patients registered at our centre have survived 40 years of diabetes. Thus a total of 302 patients have survived over 40 years with diabetes. These patients demonstrate that diabetes is compatible with a full and long life”. 

Dr. R.M. Anjana, Jt. Managing Director, DMDSC said that “All these 9 patients maintained a regular life style and took their medicines regularly. They also came for regular check up to our centre which help them to live a long and healthy life”.

Dr. Ranjit Unnikrishnan, Vice Chairman, DMDSC said “Despite 50 years of diabetes none of them had any complications of diabetes showing that even after 50 years of diabetes, it is possible to prevent the complications of diabetes and live a long and healthy life”
 

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Honorary Doctorate Degree (D.Sc)

Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman & Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan's Diabetics Speciality Centre receiving the honorary doctorate degree (D.Sc) from, Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala, His Excellency the Governor of Tamilnadu, at the convocation of Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai on Saturday.