🏃♂️ Run for a Cause | World No Tobacco Day 2025 | 01.06.2025
Honoured to be invited as the Guest of Honour at the Noida 10K Run Challenge 2025—a vibrant celebration of health, fitness, and a tobacco-free lifestyle, hosted at Seth M.R. Jaipuria School, Greater Noida early morning 1st of June 2025
Over 800 spirited participants joined this early morning fitness fest. I had the privilege to deliver a motivational message and then run 3 km alongside sports enthusiasts and change-makers.
Ms. Bhavna Gaur, Ms Kumud, Ms. Sheela, Mr Mukesh Jain, Mr. Abhishek Singh and many more with whom I had a stint. And of course Lakshay my son was also there to run 10 km.
As a Cancer Surgeon and Senior Director at Max Hospital Vaishali, my message was clear and urgent:
💬 LIVE FREE. BREATHE FREE. 🚫 Don’t fall for surrogate advertisements—they glamorize addiction. ✅ BE SMART. DO NOT START. ✅ QUITTING IS POSSIBLE — with structured medical therapy & counselling. ✅ Do a monthly self-check for any “Chota Daana” (suspicious oral lesion). Early detection = better outcomes.
🎯 Become a Tobacco Marshal in your community. Educate, support, inspire.
For support, reach out: 📞 Quitline: 9773856664 📧 support@icancare.com 🌐www.quittobacco.icancare.com 🏥 Or visit the ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation Centre at Max Vaishali
Let’s turn every step we take into a statement—towards freedom from tobacco and towards stronger, healthier communities.
In a powerful move to combat the growing menace of tobacco addiction and oral cancer in Odisha, I CAN WIN Foundation, in collaboration with ICanCaRe and Gupta Distributors, launched the Tobacco MARSHAL Program in Bhubaneswar. The introductory session was held at the Hanspal office of Gupta Distributors, graciously hosted by Mr. Prerit Gupta, Director, and supported by Mr. Rajesh Gupta, Chairman, Gupta Group of Businesses.
Led by Dr. Pawan Gupta, Senior Director – Surgical Oncology at MAX Hospitals, Delhi NCR, and Founder of ICanCaRe, the session educated the audience on early signs of oral cancer—highlighting the campaign message: “Catch Cancer at Stage 0 with Chhota Daana.”
👥 Dignitaries and Key Participants
The session witnessed the enthusiastic participation of several prominent individuals:
Mr. Biswajit Patra, Businessman and Secretary Elect, Rotary Club Bhubaneswar, expressed commitment to partner with ICanCaRe to take the Tobacco MARSHAL initiative to grassroots through Rotary channels.
Mr. Prashanna Kumar Mishra, Advocate, Odisha Bar Association, proposed tobacco awareness camps at Cuttack High Court for members of the legal community.
Mr. Rakesh Barick, Secretary, SAI Sports Association & Manager at Panasonic Odisha, showed interest in organizing a mega awareness drive with a seating capacity of 1000.
Ms. Ipshita Sarkar, Psycho-oncologist, actively addressed psychological aspects of tobacco addiction and guided participants through mental health aspects of cessation.
🔬 Real Impact: From Awareness to Action
The event was not just informative but also action-oriented:
Three participants were screened and found with restricted mouth opening and lesions, who were immediately guided for further diagnosis and treatment.
The revolutionary device TrisCaRe was introduced as a vital solution for trismus management in oral cancer and pre-cancer cases.
Dr. Pawan emphasized the availability of structured medical treatment to help individuals quit tobacco and highlighted the digital quitline (📞 9773856664) and the ICanCaRe App-based Quit Program that provides behavioral and pharmacological support.
💬 Questions That Matter
One of the most relevant and heartfelt questions came from Mr. Prerit and Mr. Anis: “How can one resist peer pressure when everyone in the friend circle uses tobacco and alcohol?” Dr. Pawan’s response was direct and empowering:
“Motivation is the key—and the good news is that medical treatment is available to help quit tobacco. With proper support and medication for just 3 months, one can be free from cravings and withdrawal symptoms.”
Mr. Anis, inspired by the session, immediately scheduled a consultation to help his father begin the tobacco cessation journey.
The session ended on a hopeful note, with Mr. Rajesh Gupta committing full support to the #SaveTheYouth campaign in Odisha. Volunteers came forward to enroll as Tobacco MARSHALs and pledged to spread awareness in schools, offices, and communities.
📞 Call to Action
💬 Want to be a part of this movement? 🔗 Register as a Tobacco MARSHAL here: www.icancare.in/academy/marshal 📞 Helpline: 9773856664 📧 Email: support@icancare.com
Together, let’s kill the modern demon – Tambaku-Asur. Let’s save lives. Let’s save our youth.
“Smokers with diabetes and hypertension at higher risk of Cardiovascular events”. – ICanCaRe
Introduction:
I continuation of our previous blog article on the risk of smoking and diabetes type 2, a recent article on a link of CVD with diabetes, highlights the need for a comprehensive smoking cessation program for such patients.
In the complex landscape of managing type 2 diabetes, the link between blood pressure levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has emerged as a critical focal point. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association delves into the intricate relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) levels and their impact on mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. The findings, drawn from a multi-institutional diabetes registry in Singapore, underscore the urgency for comprehensive interventions like ICanCaRe to address the cardiovascular risks associated with type 2 diabetes.
Unraveling the Study’s Objectives:
Led by Loraine Liping Seng and her colleagues, the study aimed to unravel the correlation between systolic and diastolic BP levels and the risk of CVD mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the study explored associations with all-cause mortality, the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and CVD hospitalization, and the composite outcome of CVD mortality and hospitalization due to specific cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), stroke, bypass surgery (CABG), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
The Singaporean Perspective:
Utilizing data from a multi-ethnic Asian patient pool – Chinese, Malay, and Indian – the study delved into a rich repository of information encompassing primary care to hospital-based care. The comprehensive analysis included 83,721 patients with type 2 diabetes over a span of seven years. Notably, almost 80% of the participants were on antihypertensive treatment, highlighting the prevalence of the condition in this population.
Key Findings and Implications:
The study’s primary outcome revealed a notable association between clinic systolic BP of 130 mm Hg or higher and/or diastolic BP of 90 mm Hg or greater with an increased risk of CVD mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Intriguingly, adverse cardiovascular outcomes were also paradoxically linked to diastolic blood pressure levels below 70 mm Hg. While the authors acknowledge the potential influence of reverse causality, the study emphasizes the importance of maintaining systolic BP below 130 mm Hg and diastolic BP below 90 mm Hg in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
ICanCaRe: A Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular and diabetic Health:
In light of these findings, the ICanCaRe Tobacco Intervention program takes center stage as a holistic approach to address the multifaceted challenges posed by type 2 diabetes. Recognizing the intricate interplay between cardiovascular health, diabetes, and other lifestyle factors, ICanCaRe empowers individuals to make informed choices and adopt a comprehensive approach to well-being. The ICanCaRe program is designed to offer personalized support to individuals seeking to quit Tobacco. Understanding that each journey is unique, the program tailors its strategies to meet each participant’s specific needs and challenges. (www.app.icancare.in). Medical assistance in a protocol-based approach is provided by Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists. This multi-faceted ABCD approach for tobacco cessation ensures that individuals have access to all necessary resources to 100% quit smoking or Chewing tobacco.
Conclusion:
As the nexus between type 2 diabetes, blood pressure levels, and cardiovascular risks becomes clearer, interventions like ICanCaRe gain significance in the realm of patient care. By integrating the latest research findings into its framework, ICanCaRe supports tobacco cessation, guiding individuals through the complexities of managing diabetes and promoting cardiovascular health. In a world where data illuminates the path to better outcomes, the ICanCaRe program becomes an invaluable tool in the fight against the complications of type 2 diabetes with increased risk with smoking, offering a lifeline to those seeking a healthier, more empowered future.
Reference:
Loraine Liping Seng, et al. Real-world systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes-results from a large registry cohort in Asia. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Nov 28:e030772. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030772.
World Health Organization, International Diabetes Federation, and the University of Newcastle. “Policy Brief on Smoking and Type 2 Diabetes.” This brief offers a comprehensive overview of the research linking smoking cessation to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
ICanCaRe. “Tobacco Cessation Program Overview.” www.icancare.in
American Diabetes Association. “The Impact of Smoking on Diabetes and Diabetes Management.” This article discusses the implications of smoking on diabetes management and the benefits of cessation.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “Smoking and Diabetes.” This resource offers a deeper understanding of how smoking affects diabetes risk and control.
