Way back in 1974, when Mr W A Sundara Murthy set up the Diabetes Club, little had he known that diabetes would some day be counted as one of the major diseases dogging the populace. Today, over 240 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. Worst still, children are not spared from this global epidemic that is growing at an alarming rate.

Set up with the objective of addressing the needs of diabetic patients, the Diabetes Club has been relentlessly working for the realisation of its objective in its 33 years of existence. The Club has, to date, over 1,400 registered diabetic children and adolescents in Karnataka under its wing.

Another most important objective of the Club is to spread awareness about diabetes since most cases of diabetes in children are either diagnosed late or misdiagnosed completely.

A philanthropic, non-profit organisation, the Diabetes Club provides subsidised or free medical care to diabetics from the economically weaker sections of society. Apart from free consultations, blood tests and medicines, the Club also gives over 300 children free insulin, syringe, glucometer and diabetic footwear.

According to Dr K M Prasanna Kumar, head of the Diabetes Club and CEO of the Bangalore Diabetes Hospital, family members of diabetic children from rural areas are trained to check their blood sugar levels and seek the doctor’s advice over phone.

“This not only saves them the trouble of coming all the way to Bangalore from their villages spending a lot of money, but also helps us to keep a tab on their condition,” says Dr Prasanna Kumar.

This is not all. The club supports poor diabetic children by providing them with school/college fees, books, uniforms and educational material. Children above 18 years of age who are not willing to study are provided with vocational training so that they are able to earn their livelihood. While boys are trained in driving and computers, girls are trained in tailoring and office management. The club also has a tie up with a few organisations that accommodate girls and help them find jobs.

“Rehabilitation is also our responsibility,” says Dr Prasanna Kumar.

The Diabetes Club, in its endeavour to increase public awareness about diabetes, publishes information booklets in both Kannada and English, organises regular public awareness programmes and diabetes detection and treatment camps in various parts of the State. Till date, the Diabetes Club has organised diabetic camps at Sira, Balehonnur, Maddur, Nanjangud, Channapatna, Shivajinagar and Sampangiramnagar in association with a few other NGO's. The club also has to its credit, the organisation of two large scale diabetes exhibitions.

The Diabetes Club also trains doctors, nurses and educators in diabetes care and organises many State and National level workshops and conferences on diabetes to help doctors upgrade their knowledge and learn about latest advances in the field.

In an effort to make medical aid for diabetics easily accessible to all sections of society, the Diabetes Club started the Bangalore Diabetes Hospital (BDH). According to Dr Prasanna Kumar, BDH is the result of the effort of all diabetic specialists of Karnataka and houses a research wing that is dedicated to basic, epidemiology and clinical research.

“At BDH, while the standard of treatment is the same for people from all sections of society, the fee charged for the economically backward is minimal,” says Dr Prasanna Kumar.

For details, contact: 16/M, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore - 52; Ph: 22372980.