Excelsior Correspondent
![Dr Jitendra Singh examining patient at a diabetes camp held at Kathua on Thursday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/page125-300x168.jpg)
KATHUA, Aug 8: Renowned Diabetologist, National Professor of Diabetes & Chairman National Scientific Committee (RSSDI), Dr Jitendra Singh said, earlier it was believed that Diabetes was confined primarily to metros and urban areas but current statistics reveal that it is now rapidly spreading to smaller towns, villages as well as rural, semi-urban and hilly areas where it was hitherto a lesser known disease.
Speaking at a Diabetes Awareness programme cum detection camp held here today, organized by Diabetes Care Foundation (DCF), Dr Jitendra Singh said that during the first half of current year, the DCF has already successfully organized a series of similar camps in the peripheral areas of Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur, Kathua and Hiranagar. This is a part of the DCF campaign to reach out to people in remote areas who are usually deprived of easy access to health care facilities, he added.
He said this was the third such camp in last six months to be organised in district Kathua.
On the occasion free medical consultation was provided by a team of specialists led by Dr Jitendra Singh and free blood tests were carried out. Free medicine was also distributed. Among those present on the occasion were prominent social activists Inderjeet, Vidyasagar, Prem Nath Dogra, Ramesh Ji, Chatar Singh, Janak Bharati and DCF Executive Member Varun Malhotra.
Referring to recent upsurge of Diabetes ,Dr Jitendra Singh said rapid urbanization is a major factor responsible for it. People living in smaller towns and villages are also now gradually switching over to dietary habits and life style culture of city folk, he explained. The level of stress has also tremendously gone up while the level of physical activity has gone down.