Endocrinologists at the PGI Chandigarh have asserted that lifelong injection of insulin is an absolute necessity for Type 2 diabetics, and omission of insulin intake is most certainly suicidal for them. The biggest danger for people with Type 2 diabetes is to fall for “sure shot†alternative solutions touted by various ‘babas’ and other propounders of so called miracle medicines. “All these practices are humbug and we strictly advise patients not to be lured by such tall claims,†Dr Anil Bhansali, Prof & Head, Department of Endocrinology and other senior members of his team informed media persons at a World Diabetes Day commemoration briefing on Tuesday.
Asserting that only transplant of the pancreas was showing promise of being a viable alternative to insulin intake for Type 2 diabetics in the future, he said right now there was a big question mark on the availability of suitable donors. PGI is the only public hospital in the country to be doing such transplants apart from an odd private hospital.
Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
Dr Ashish Sharma, transplant surgeon in the department, added: “We have successfully done 15 cases of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant on Type 2 diabetes patients who suffered renal failure and in all 15 cases the patients were discharged from the hospital within a month. They were taken off insulin immediately after the pancreas transplant. Four years after we first undertook transplant of the pancreas in 2014, the long term survival rate of such patients has been 73 %.”
He expressed confidence that the long term survival rate was sure to improve further with more pancreas donors coming forward and doctors being able to handle more such transplant cases. “We are following the same procedures as in some of the advanced countries, but various post discharge factors, which are primarily in the hands of the patients or their attendants, need to be improved. Concerns still remain over these patients contacting infections post discharge or not regularly taking their immunosuppressant medicines, which they are required to take for life. In India we have done less than 100 such transplants, as against more than a 1,000 in the USA,” he informed.
Chandigarh Diabetes Capital
Sharing details of latest surveys on prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes, Dr Bhansali said Chandigarh continued to remain the diabetes capital of the country, while China was now the diabetes capital of the world. Data recently published by ICMR-INDIAB study showed a diabetes prevalence of 13.6 % in Chandigarh as against a national average of 7.3 % in 15 states covered so far. This figure is in concordance with a previous study on diabetes undertaken by PGI in Chandigarh and published in 2009, which showed diabetes prevalence of 12 %. The situation demands further strengthening of the awareness drives in Chandigarh to persuade the people to maintain a healthy lifestyle with ample measure of daily exercising and avoiding junk foods, Dr Bhansali opined.
He said another cause for serious concern was the high probability of prevalence of prediabetes on a very large scale among the population in Chandigarh, but data which indicated to such a probability needed to be further reinforced, he said. If detected at a prediabetes stage, patients can hope to reverse the condition with suitable changes in their lifestyle, he said, adding that people above 30 years of age must get themselves tested for diabetes to rule out a prediabetes stage having set in.
Spread Out The Pricks
Dr Bhansali also advised diabetics who are taking their daily doses of insulin to insure that each time they inject themselves at different points in a larger area around the navel and not just at one place. The distance between two consecutive pricks should be one cm. This, he explained, was necessary to prevent formation of fat lump over the abdominal wall which prevents optimum insulin absorption. The same needle can be used for up to six times, he said.
Take Care Of Feet
The senior doctors also cautioned diabetic patients against ignoring the health of their feet. The incidence of ulcers, gangrene and charcot foot (weakening of bones) is common among diabetics. “If there are 100 diabetic patients coming with foot complications, there will be approximately 15 % those who are suffering from charcot foot, 60 % will have ulcers and the rest gangrene. Charcot Foot, especially, goes unnoticed with just subtle symptoms like warmth to the touch (affected foot feels warmer than the other), insensitivity, redness, swelling, etc. All these complications if left unattended over a period of time can even lead to amputation, they warned.
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From textiles to home decor items in various mediums, ranging from ceramic to bamboo, to metals to wood and many more, the choice is endless. To take a break from shopping one can take a bite at the food courts and enjoy a camel ride or one of the various performances happening on the trot at multiple locations.
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A write-up of the brand shared with media persons says, “The store houses an enthralling range of fine jewellery catering to varied tastes. Elegantly designed, Being Human Jewellery offers light-weight collections in plain gold, diamonds and coloured stone pieces. The designs are classic, stylish and affordable, catering to every woman’s taste in fine jewellery.” 
A video recording of Salman’s message for the occasion, was also played out on screen in which the star said though he could not be present, despite wanting to, “It feels great that we are taking our next step of expansion with Being Human Jewellery’s first franchise store in Chandigarh! The people of Chandigarh have always given me a lot of love, and I hope we continue to receive it.”
Speaking to lifeinchandigarh.com, Prasad Kapre, CEO and Director, Style Quotient Jewellery Pvt Ltd, the world licensee of the Being Human Jewellery brand, shared that the launch of the brand was sparked by the tremendous popularity of the pendant worn by Salman in the super hit movie ‘Bajrangi Bhai Jaan’. “I had designed the pendant, and when we received a tremendous response for it after the movie, we discussed how to capitalise on it. Thus the seed was sown for launching a jewellery brand in the name of Salman’s foundation, Being Human.”
There will be 170 odd stalls with artisans from nearly all states exhibiting their products. A dozen stalls have been earmarked for the Chandigarh Administration. A special stall will be dedicated to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. The stall will showcase some rare pictures from the Mahatma’s life, the freedom struggle and other aspects of his journey.
Among the bands and individual artists performing at the cultural evenings will be the famous Bhopal based Sanskrit band ‘Dhruvaa’, which performs to laser lights, the all woman folk band Lasya wow womania, Gurdas Mann’s protégé Lal Chand Lala, Hans Raj Hans, Satinder Sartaj, Jazzy B, Lakhwinder Wadali, B Paraak, Sonu Virk, Kulwinder Billa, Ranjit Bawa, Anadi Misra and Manjeet Nikki.
Replying to a question, Jitender Yadav informed that a detailed project report has been sent to the Union Ministry of Culture to spruce up the Kalagram grounds by laying more tracks and increasing the greenery for a more enjoyable experience for visitors in the future. To this Saubhagya Sharma added that more mega events are being planned to be included in the existing calendar of events at Kalagram with a motive to keep it in a high state of upkeep and maintenance throughout the year and generate more revenues. There is also a plan to revamp the sculpture park at Kalagram to attract more visitors. 
He adds, “We would like to be a testimony of transformation in terms of festivals in the country. We have a variety of festivals, but there is none in the wellness space which holistically combines wellness with adventure and music. The Forest Escape Festival will fill that void. It’ll be one grand festival in the lap of Mother Nature.”
For the first time in the country, a festival is putting together an organic flea market that will offer authentic organic food products, recycled merchandises and clothes to its attendees. 
