Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: Experts have observed that Covid-19 had infected more people with diabetes compared to other people making the battle even tougher for them.

“The Covid virus easily infected persons with diabetes and these patients subsequently became critical,” Prof. Abhay Kumar Sahu, Head of the department of Endocrinology at Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, said. He described both Covid and Diabetes as two edges of the same sword.

Another worrying factor was that the drugs administered to treat Covid in non-diabetic patients often led to those persons becoming diabetic subsequently, Prof. Sahu said while speaking at a program organised in the hospital to mark World Diabetes Day on Sunday.

The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day was ‘Access to Diabetes Care’ meaning all should have access to proper diabetes treatment.

Prof. Sahu said while 11 to 12 per cent of the urban population was found to be diabetic, it was 8 to 15 per cent in those living in rural areas. While those in urban centres had access to proper diabetes care, it was not available to people living in villages.

A free health camp was organised in the hospital to mark the day. Prof. Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent, said the IMS and SUM Hospital organised walkathons, rallies, street corner plays and free health camps on the World Diabetes Day to make people aware about diabetes. “Our aim is to ensure that people get needed advice about the condition and get access to proper treatment,” he said.

Prof. Jaybhanu Kanwar, Professor in the department of Endocrinology, said though Insulin had been invented a century ago, people were yet to know how to use it to battle diabetes. The need was to spread awareness about early detection of the condition, proper treatment and eradication, he said.

Dr. Swayamsidha Mangaraj, Associate Professor in the department, spoke about the need for making treatment available to people everywhere. Among others, Associate Professor Dr. Jayashree Swain, DM Resident Doctors Dr. Ankit Manglunia, Dr. Jashprit Singh, , Dr. Puja Jadhao, Dr. S.L. Srabya, Senior Dietician Ms. Suryasikha Mohanty, Dietician Ms. Tanaya Baral, Physiotherapist Dr. Arabinda Rath, Deputy Director  Priyabrat Das, DGM (Operation) Pushpanjali Rout, Junior Hospital Administrators Sashi Bhushan Giri and Prabhat Kumar Nayak, staff nurses and other staff members were present.