PMU Hosts World Diabetes Day Health Awareness Camp

The Department of Health and Counseling, under the direction of the Student Affairs, at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) hosted its 4th Annual World Diabetes Day Health Awareness Camp in its campus to create awareness amongst students, faculty and staff through latest information on diabetes, treatment and its prevention. Practical steps were taken with hand-outs, one-on-one interaction between participants and experts through PowerPoint slides to explain the worst affect of diabetes in case timely preventive step is ignored.

According to recent estimations the escalating rate of diabetes has increased faster all around the world. Main purpose of organizing World Diabetes Day worldwide is to create awareness amongst the masses. These steps are taken to prevent this illness by keeping the sufferers aware of the side effects besides knowing timely preventive options.   

World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best was instrumental for the discovery of insulin in the year 1922. Today insulin is wonderful life-saving treatment for diabetes.

Chronic impact of diabetes must be understood. The one-day camp at PMU highlighted its seriousness that might invite other potentially life-threatening complications like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation amongst others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) calculations number of diabetes sufferers is 220 million worldwide today. It is likely to double by 2030 if preventive steps are ignored. It is also revealed that almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in the low and middle-income group countries.

Participation of PMU students, staff, and faculty from male and female campuses indicated their eagerness to know this chronic disease. 293 participants were tested blood pressure and blood sugar out of which 13 (.04%) were detected having symptoms of hypertension and diabetes. Experts gave them necessary advice for prevention and follow-ups to control over symptoms.