'Welfare programmes to check diabetes'

He flagged off a walkathon jointly organised by the Karnataka Institute of Diabetology (KID) and Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) Karnataka Chapter on the occasion of ‘World Diabetes Day.’

Pointing out that approximately 66.2 million of the world’s total 222 million diabetic patients are from India, Gowda said Karnataka would implement several programmes to address the issue through agencies and hospitals. He emphasised the need for a stress-free life.

Over 2,500 people, including celebrities like veteran actress Leelavathi, her son Vinod Raj, actors Shivaram, Chandrashekhar, Deputy Mayor S Harish took part in the 2.5-km walkathon.

Later, the chief minister laid the foundation stone for the new building of the KID at the T B Sanatorium Campus on Old Madras Road. “Sugar levels in the body should go down and prices of sugar cane should go up to help the growers in the State,” he quipped.