07 Aug

Jyoti Malik – A Journey of Stride, Struggle and Strength

This is an inspirational story of a Punjabi Girl from Ludhiana, named Jyoti Malik. She has been suffering from an eye problem related to optic nerves since birth and has 100% vision impairment. Her family came to know about this problem when she was around 5 months old. Initially, Jyoti’s parents took time to accept that such a beautiful eyes were victim of a disease. It was a threshold to a new different world for Jyoti and especially for her family.
After a few years, one day, Jyoti’s mother saw a blind school bus dropping two persons at a bus stop. She, wasting no time, followed those persons and reached their place. After meeting them, she came to know that there is something like blind schools for visually challenged people. It appeared as a ray of hope for the family. Soon Jyoti was admitted to a blind school named ‘VRTC School’. She lived in the school hostel as school was in the other, corner of the city. Jyoti remained in hostel till class 12th. Here, up to class 6th, students were taught all the normal subjects but like in most of the blind schools, after sixth class, students were influenced to go for music. The studies were mostly music oriented.
We all know that life in a hostel is not easy for anyone, and so was the case with this little girl. She not only adapted to this life but also remained a good student throughout. She scored in seventies in both class 10th and 12th. Jyoti was the school head girl when she was in class 12th. Not only this, she even got ‘The Best Student Award’, to her credit. Apart from this, she also did Visharad in Vocal Music. Jyoti was also one of the students who got selected to meet Sri. Abdul Kalam when she was in class sixth.
After schooling, she did her regular graduation from Government College for girls, Ludhiana. Here too, she had to fight for her rights. She wanted to take psychology subject but the teachers disallowed her. Soon, she took her teachers in confidence by scoring good marks in an initial Psychology test. Later, she also won second prize in a Psychology PPT competition. Her journey through these three years was challenging but she overcame every obstacle. And even on her farewell, she was titled ‘The Most Confident Girl.’

Computer and Technology in her Life

There was no computer in her school and at home. Computer came in her life when she was in class 10th. Whenever Jyoti happened to visit her house, she would do experiments on computer. Gradually, she started exploring commands and other features of this ‘featured box’. At that time, there was no screen reader in her computer. After finishing her schooling, Jyoti got to spend more time with this machine. Her constant efforts and curiosity led her to grasp it. During this period, she met a person who told her about screen reader. She took some initial assistance from him and then learnt this software on her own. Gradually, she became so good at computer and talking screen reader that she got independent in her studies and everything a person can do on a computer.
Today, Jyoti is an RJ and Program Manager of Radio Udaan, an online radio station run by visually challenged people. Jyoti has a passion for website designing and has made many websites for different people. Even the website of Radio Udaan is also made, designed and administrated by her. She also guides and assists her friends in computer and software related issues. Because of her never giving up attitude and constant efforts, Jyoti is managing all this along with her Masters in Political Science. ‘My aim is to crack PPSC Exam’, says Jyoti.
Jyoti carries a positive mind and believes in hard work. She has so many hobbies like cooking, exploring softwares, helping her friends etc. Best thing about Jyoti is that she never leaves any opportunity to interact with people. Her determination keeps her going through every situation.
I wrote this inspirational story because it proves how hunger for knowledge, passion for living life to its fullest and never giving up attitude can enable a person to achieve everything he/she wants to accomplish.

26 Nov

Living Free with Diabetes

Diabetes isn’t a new word for most of us. Isn’t it so common to hear now that India is the diabetic capital of the world? Over 70 million Indians have been diagnosed with diabetes and millions on their way to that diagnosis.
I have closely observed the same as the condition runs in my family too and after getting to know and see things, I have found out that all type of diabetes are treatable and everybody with diabetes can lead a normal active life. The only secret being –A healthy and a subsequent control in lifestyle. So here I am sharing below the key factors to a healthy and normal lifestyle following which diabetic people can also live a completely normal and happy life-
• Exercise
• Medication
• A Balanced diet
• Social life

I feel everyone should eat healthy and exercise regularly whether they are diabetic or not. Such a lifestyle can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, and limit diabetes-related complications for those who already have the condition.
Therefore, depending on your condition, a healthy lifestyle can be achieved by following the four point plan or the four point plan + medication (insulin, tablets, or both)
Exercise
Physical activity is the key to good health as exercise not only improves our fitness levels but also burns calories and reduces body fat. For people with diabetes, exercise lowers blood sugar and, like insulin, also helps your body to use its blood sugar efficiently.
Medical advice
People with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections as a part of medication.
Insulin lowers blood sugar levels and is essential for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, when the body cannot make its own insulin. Type 1 patients’ daily routine may include regular monitoring of sugar levels in blood.
In type 2 diabetes some insulin is produced by the body, but not enough to satisfy its needs. People with type 2 diabetes may require oral hypoglycemic drugs to lower blood sugar and some may need insulin injections (up to 30% of people with type 2 diabetes may use insulin injections some or all of the time to control their condition).
The important thing here is to make sure you receive the proper advice that is appropriate to your condition and incorporate the necessary adjustments into your life. That way you are the one in control.
A Balanced Diet
Eating healthy is very important for diabetic people. A healthy and balanced diet helps control blood sugar levels and maintains body weight. The blood sugar levels are affected by what we eat therefore wise food choices are the key to a healthy life and prevention of illness.
Social life
Having an active social life is as important as exercising or monitoring blood sugar level. But many don’t lay much emphasis on its requirement and hence it remains the most underrated factor in the control of diabetes.
A good social life not only gives stability to mind and body but also lowers the stress levels. Hanging out with friends and family and enjoying celebrations just like a normal person is a great boost in feeling good, it reduces a factor in the development of diabetes, and helps people with diabetes to take control of their condition.

26 Nov

Diabetic causing complete blindness.

• Diabetic patient does not become blind at a time, as the sugar level increases, it affects the body organs and dullness comes.
• Eyes becomes so weak that diabetic patients face problems while watching TV or driving vehicles and becomes reason for blindness.
• If due to any circumstances it is not possible for the timely and routine checkups, in that situation if any problem in eyes occurs patient should immediately concern doctor.
• In order to prevent blindness person should concern the doctor and use eye drops regularly with the increase in age.
• Regular eye exercise also helps in preventing blindness. There are two types of exercises, one- focusing on one object, second- through a machine which is done through doctors.
• Person having weak eyes or muscles are so weak , so never neglect, in that case diabetic patient should take extra care of their eyes and should go for proper treatment by consulting doctor.
• If doctor advice for spectacles, do not ignore it because of shame or any other reasons, it is required to use the spectacles as per the number instructed by doctor. They should take out of the mind that once they start wearing spectacles it will be for life time, lens can also be used.
• Wash the eyes properly with cold water 4-5 times in a day.

26 Nov

Diabetic Retinopathy : What does Allopathy says

Conversation regarding diabetic retinopathy with Dr Punit Gupta from Delhi by Divya Sahu

How you see the diabetes diseases in terms of eyes?
Presently in India, diseases related to life style is being increasing day by day and this is the reason for diabetes also. If the problems related to diabetes increases its harms nerves and give rise to heart problems. In similar the dangerous affect of diabetes is seen on eyes. The effect of diabetes caused on retina is called diabetic retinopathy. As the diabetes is increasing among people, the diabetic retinopathy cases are also being seen among people.

How the diabetic retinopathy does harm our body?
The vision capacity of eyes is affected due to diabetic retinopathy, but if the patients gets the proper treatment in time, it can be cured otherwise patient had to face its serious consequences, a person can become blind also.

How much effective is the development done for the prevention of eye diseases caused due to diabetes in medical science?
Most important thing is that Retina specialists do the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, now these specialists are present in large number in our country. Earlier they were only few. We have progressed in eye check-up n treatment only due to the progress of medical science. Retina specialists carries the angiography of eyes of the patient followed by scanning of retina, due to which the changes occurred in eyes due to diabetes can be detected.

During the treatment the diabetes patient is thoroughly checked, eye checkup is incomplete without the scanning of retina.
There are various ways of treatment of this disease but laser treatment plays an important role in this direction. Special injections are also available which are kept in anti vascular endothelial growth fact group and it is available in our country. If any patient comes in such condition whose eyes can/t be cured in such condition the surgery of eye membrane can be done to save retina, and this can be done only by retina specialists.

Most important point is to detect or check the diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in time. When the patient approaches doctor late, eyes can’t be cured properly this is possible by giving the treatment at initial stage. Many times the patients make delay in approaching doctor for treatment in such situation it becomes impossible for us to cure.

How is the future for the treatment of this disease for the people suffering from blindness.
Medical science had progressed a lot. If we go 22 years back, we can find that the patients used to become blind in doctor’s presence and doctors were helpless to stop this. But presently doctors are capable to some extent to bring vision back. We hope a better treatment facility in coming days in medical science.

Which type of life style is suitable to prevent diabetes and diabetic retinopathy?
Every person should remain aware regarding diabetes. Diabetes can be controlled with the help of physician doctors. If diabetes is kept in control, eye problems can be reduced. Most important fact, that if a person is suffering from diabetes it is must to consult eye doctor. It is necessary to consult eye specialists once in a year even if no problem exists. Generally when the person is unable to see properly or problem in vision, they go to eye doctor, but by that time retina is badly affected due to diabetes. If the diabetes patients concern the eye specialists in initial stage, he can be prevented from becoming blind. And apart from this it is necessary to bring changes in our life style, food habits and do regular exercise.