[Aman Singh]

Diabetes in the South Asian Community is on the Rise.
Project Advancing Care Together (ACT) under Sikh Aid Gears up by engaging through Health workshops.

Flushing, New York- UNITED SIKHS conducted a Health workshop at the Flushing Sikh Center Gurdwara Saheb. The primary focus was on educating the community about Diabetes, specifically, the link between diabetes and heart disease, and the leading cause of death in the South Asian Community.

Blood Pressure screenings were performed, from 12 Noon to 2 PM, to detect undiagnosed hypertension, another common silent killer, along with diabetes, in the South Asian community. Almost a hundred members of the sangat(congregation) had their blood pressures checked, and were counseled on diabetes, hypertension, and other Cardiovascular risk factors. Dr Harmeet Singh Narula, Endocrinologist at Stony Brook University, addressed more than 250 members of the sangat using a powerpoint presentation, to help them understand the link between diabetes and heart disease, and the need for routine annual preventive health visits for blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol screenings.

ACT’s series of workshops has been planned by Dr Jogesh Kaur, Pediatrics, Jamaica Hospital, Dr. Harmeet Singh, and Dr Jasjeet Kaur, Psychiatrist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, facilitated by Raminder Kaur and Arvind Kaur from UNITED SIKHS. Volunteers S Tejdeep Singh, NYU Dental School, and Dr Maneet Kaur Narula, Stony Brook, participated in this endeavor.

The mission of the these Health Workshops is two-fold :
1. educate immigrant communities on various health conditions to empower them to make good healthcare decisions for themselves, and hence help eliminate healthcare disparities.
2. improve the access to care, by identifying local resources available to the community

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030. In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million dies from diabetes. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Almost half of diabetes deaths occur in people under the age of 70 years; 55% of diabetes deaths are in women. World Health Organization (WHO) projects that diabetes deaths will increase by more than 50% in the next 10 years without urgent action. Most notably, diabetes deaths
are projected to increase and by over 80% in upper-middle income countries between 2006 and 2015.
Dr. Harmeet Singh, said, "Diabetes and High Blood Pressure are silent killers: they are responsible for the high risk of heart disease and stroke in our community. It is extremely important that our community understands the link between diabetes and heart disease, so they treat their diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol aggressively. Today's program is an important first step towards improving the healthcare of our community"
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/health-and-nutrition/26056-diabetes-in-south-asian-community-rise.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26056




Dr. Jasjeet Kaur and Dr. Jogesh Kaur conducted blood-pressure checkups.
Himmat Singh, Chairman of the Gurdwara Saheb said, “Such workshops are very much needed and helpful to the community members. More such workshops are required”.

Arvind Kaur, UNITED SIKHS healthcare co-coordinator, said, “We thank all volunteers, Harpreet Singh of New York City Keertan Group and all those who assisted to make this workshop a success”.

For more information or to get Project Advancing Health Care Together to come in your area, please reach us at 888-243-1690 or write to healthclinics@unitedsikhs.org
Issued By :
Raminder Kaur
Operations Manager
raminder.kaur@unitedsikhs.org
Tel: 888-243-1690 | 516-524-8585

[kds1980]

I read one genetic study on Diabetes on Pakistani site which I think is very useful for punjabi sikhs too because gentically we are close to pakistani's
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26056

http://cure-desi-diabetes.com/GeneFactor.aspx

Pakistani GENES and Pakistani Lifestyle


Pakistanis are born with genetic disorder called INSULIN RESISTENCE. In simple English it means Pakistani is born with tendency to gain weight and develop diabetes and to have Low HDL and high Triglycerides that leads to Heart Disease. Pakistanis are prone to have Heart Disease and Diabetes. Some Pakistani develop heart disease and do not live long enough to develop Diabetes and some Pakistani develop Diabetes and may develop Heart Disease later on.

Only way to overcome this genetic Defect is to stay thin, slim and be physically very active. Obesity is not acceptable at any cost. It is important to be physically active.

Let me give you some examples

1)Physically active Person who slows down at the 55 or 60 when his son grows up and takes Charge of Family Business. He gains few pounds and often become victim of Diabetes and/or Heart Disease.

2)Physically active Person who slows down at the age of 70, gains weight and often develop Diabetes.

3)Regular Pakistanis who are overweight and use scooters/cars are getting Diabetes at the age of 40 -45 or even at younger age.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26056

4)Army Officers who are promoted from Field jobs to Desk jobs in their 40’s often gain weight and develop Diabetes and or Heart Disease. There is lot of Heart Disease and/or Diabetes in Retired army officers.

5)Tractor Driving Farmers – Fathers plowed the fields by walking behind the bulls, shoveled the land and grew their crops all their lives working whole day from dawn to dusk. They lived long lives. Diabetes and Heart Disease was unknown. Now the sons plow the field by riding the Tractor and when sun gets hot they come home and watch TV. Little things are done by hired hands. These sons are getting Diabetes. Prevention of Diabetes and Heart disease simply means being Slim and physically active because genes for heart disease and Diabetes are already present in Every Pakistani. He Slows down and those genes become active. So you should walk daily and walk away from your genes, Diabetes and Heart Disease.

[Sinister]

In most populations men are almost twice as likely as woman to develop type II-diabetes mellitus (resulting from insulin resistance and sometimes insulin deficiency).

I just want to say one thing here that could be useful…many of the facts people already know…along with genetics, abdominal fat, high cholesterol and stress have been shown to be a significant contributor to the development of type II diabetes or progression to a stage of pre-diabetes (becoming more prevalent in the population).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26056
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=26056

One test guys could do in the comfort of their own home is the chest/belly measurement. For a healthy male the chest should measure larger than the measurement around the stomach (taken from the belly button/naval all the way around) by a couple of inches. Then take appropriate ACTION to increase the difference.

Elderly people should monitor their blood glucose levels from time to time even if they don’t have diabetes and make dietary changes if they see irregularity and fluctuation in blood sugar levels (which may be a sign of pre-diabetes).