After its successful drive against malaria, the BMC is now chalking out a similar battleplan againstdiabetes.

Besides starting 28 dedicated dispensaries where people can go for treatment, the civic body has also decidedto reachouttocitizenstotackle the lifestyle disease. Recognizing the fact that diabetes is no longer a “rich man’s disease”, the BMC will send healthofficersfrom door to door and track down people at risk. “After multiple meetings with our doctors we have come to the conclusion that 20% of diabetes can be cured through lifestyle alterations,” said additional municipal commissioner (health) Manisha Mhaiskar, adding thattheBMCwouldhold a week–long awareness programmethisweek.On Sunday, the BMC will hold health walksin allits24wardsfrom 7 am.

In a bid to “nip the disease in the bud”, the civic body will conduct workshops for people who manage canteens atschools andcolleges as according to health experts, it is difficult to change one’s lifestyle at 30 after leading an unhealthy life. They feel that it is important to inculcate healthy foodhabit rightfrom childhood.

At the dispensaries, around 350 bonded doctors will work as visiting consultants and a dietician will visit once a week. “These medical officers are currently being trained at the KEM diabetes OPD. As wehaveenough number of doctors, all 28 dispensaries will have one consultant every day.” Mhaiskar said. During the training, the health officers are being taught to identify various categories of diabetes. “The first category includes thosewhodo nothavediabetesbut areborderlinecases.Allthat they need to do is modify their lifestyle. Second category comprises diabetic people who need oral medication and third–category patients have to take insulin,” said Mhaiskar, adding that the third category will have to visit their major city and peripheralhospitals.