Chennai: To mark World Diabetes Day 2024, the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) has launched Siddha Integrated Outpatient Departments (OPD) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) at its institutes in Chennai, Puducherry, and Thiruvananthapuram.

These OPDs will operate every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Inaugurating the program, CCRS Director General Prof. Dr. N.J. Muthukumar emphasized its goal to integrate Siddha medicine with biomedicine for holistic diabetes management.

Program Officer Dr. S. Selvarajan and Research Officer Dr. A. Rajendra Kumar highlighted the benefits of integrated treatment and its role in addressing diabetes complications.

T2DM, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, poses significant health risks, including cardiovascular, renal, and neurological complications, resulting in high mortality and financial strain on healthcare. The Siddha system offers effective management through polyherbal and herbo-mineral formulations.

Institute heads, including Dr. S. Kanakarajan (Chennai), Dr. P. Sathiyarajeswaran (Puducherry), and Dr. S. Natarajan (Thiruvananthapuram), elaborated on the initiatives.

The program also focuses on public awareness, promoting lifestyle modifications like diet, yoga, and regular health monitoring through camps and IEC materials.

This initiative aims to improve patient outcomes and prevent complications while contributing to research in Siddha integrative care.