Fight against diabetes

The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in association with Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Emory University and Harvard University from the USA, announced the findings of India’s first-of-its-kind in-depth corporate worksite report titled ‘INDIA-WORKS’ – Integrating Diabetes Prevention in Workplaces. “Organized sector (large or medium-sized industries or offices) employees have the highest burden of chronic disease risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. There is substantial evidence that we can prevent these risk factors or control them if people have acquired these diseases already. The INDIA-WORKS program demonstrates population average reduction in cardiometabolic risk factors such as weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and HbA1c.” – Prof. Dr. Prabhakaran, Executive Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, and Distinguished Professor at the Public Health Foundation of India. ‘The INDIA-WORKS program was implemented in 11 prestigious worksites across India, consisting of steel and manufacturing plants, locomotive industry, and refineries. The participating worksites through this program have now become torchbearers in creating healthier workplaces. They are also great examples of how management and employees can work together to prevent disease among workers and their families by making simple, practical, and sustainable lifestyle changes which begin at their workspace. Cumulatively, these positive changes can help reduce the future burden of diabetes and cardiovascular events which we see largely affecting our young working population, early in life due to stress and unhealthy lifestyles’ – Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai. “Culturally tailored and resource-sensitive programs on diabetes risk red