Atimpoku(E/R), Nov. 14, GNA- Fifty new diabetic patients were identified at a diabetes screening exercise organized by the VRA Hospital at Atimpoku as part of activities to observe the World Diabetes Day in the Asuogyaman District on Tuesday.

All the patients never knew that they were diabetic and those found to be in bad conditions were rushed to the VRA Hospital at Akosombo for medication.

Speaking to the press, Dr. Charles Arhinful of the VRA Hospital said the hospital decided to conduct the screening exercise because of the large number of diabetic patients reporting to the hospital in recent times.

He explained that, diabetes is a killer disease but could be managed when detected early and assured those who had been diagnosed as diabetic not to panic.

Dr. Arhinful explained that, with the improvement in standard of living of many people, there are bound to be changes in their eating habits and if that was not accompanied by regular exercise, people are likely to develop diabetes.

He urged people with diabetic history in their family to regularly check the glucose levels in their blood and also undertake regular exercise.

Dr Arhinful expressed his appreciation to LIFESCAN of Johnson and Johnson Company Limited for partly sponsoring the programme. The Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Mr Ntow Bediako, who visited the scene, called on the people of Atimpoku to take advantage of the exercise to know their diabetes status to avoid premature death. He explained that, by knowing their diabetes status, they could seek early medication to prolong their life. Among those who took part in the screening exercise were market women, hawkers, fishermen, crop farmers and drivers at Atimpoku.