Minuteman Senior Services Eating Together Luncheon Centers offer older adults an opportunity to meet, share experiences, explore new interests and enjoy a nutritious lunch. Coordinated by Rita Kakkad and Jaso Kugabalasooriyar, this event often features interesting speakers who give talks on a range of subjects. The luncheon held on Friday July 22 featured talks by Dr. Desai and Dr. Shinde on diabetes and depression. The event was sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

The event opened with welcome remarks by Monalisa Patnaik from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. She felt that there was a lack of health information that relate directly to the South Asian community and hoped that events like this would help provide awareness, education and outreach of primary and preventive health information.

Dr. Desai who is herself a diabetic spoke about the risk factors for diabetes. She classified the risk factors into two categories. The first was factors like family history that one cannot change. The other factors like inactivity, obesity, poor lifestyles choices that include excessive drinking or smoking and poor food habits is under our control and can be changed.
“90 % of adults suffer from Type II diabetes. If the blood sugar level is not very high, diet control and life style changes can make a huge difference” said Dr. Desai. She urged people with diabetes to eat small portions and try to walk at least half an hour everyday.

Dr. Padmaja Shinde talked about a topic that is often hushed up in the South Asian community –a mental disorder called depression. “Depression is a clinical condition which can be treated with counseling and in some cases medication. 5% of all adults will suffer from at least once case of depression during their llife” said Dr. Shinde. “Loss of a spouse, a disability and other events can trigger depression amongst seniors” Dr. Shinde clearly differentiated “clinical depression” from getting “the blues”. “People who are sad often will continue with their day to day activities. People suffering from depression are unable to proceed with normal day to activity” said Shinde.  She also cleared the myth that medication taken for depression is addicting or that it is harmful. “The medications are safe and should be taken under the supervision of a doctor”.

Asked about use of herbs for curing depression, she said there was some scientific evidence like herbs like Ginger. St .John’s Wort, evening primrose and others have a positive effect on improving mental condition. Ginger tea is known to release natural endorphins and that has a positive effect on the mental state of mind.

Luncheon was served to the seniors by volunteers. “My mother-in-law enjoys these events very much and looks forward to attending it’ said Lee Mohapatra, a Lexington resident whose mother-in-law is in a wheel chair. The smiling faces of the seniors in the audience was clear indication that events like go a long way in bringing excitement and happiness in their lives. 

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