kolkata eight years ago unknown to fans and friends wasim akram had looked down and out doctors had diagnosed diabetes and the world seemed to have come crashing down around himwhy me is all i could think of then the former pakistan cricket skipper recollects but it the depression lasted for only about a monthandahalf he said stressing on the crucial role his family had played in helping him out of the slump the pakistan pacer decided to fight continuing his international career even as he learnt to cope with the medical conditioni took my two test hattricks and scored two centuries after that he reminded he had also found a mission in lifeakram is back in india this time on an invitation from roche diagnostics to create awareness about diabetes and help people live life the way they want to by keeping in check a disease that has no known cure the biggest problem is the lack of awareness in countries like ours says akram who has to take three shots of insulin everyday unlike other medical problems there is no pain or other physical discomfort involved things can go from bad to worse before we are diagnosed with the diseasethe sultan of swing couldnt have been in a better place with his message world health organisation estimates say 20 per cent or 33 million of the worlds diabetics are indians and that more than 30 per cent of that population is below the age of 40 it is as bad in other countries of the subcontinent butts in akram who had an interactive session with school children earlier in the day children have to be made very important part of this awareness campaign not just because they are at great risk from this diseases but also because they love memorising things and can do a lot to tell their relatives to spread the message its all about leading a healthy lifestyle avoiding junk food exercising regularly monitoring blood sugar levelsdid being an active sportsman help keep his diabetes in check not quite says akram i used to travel a lot and play a lot and in diabetes control so much is about timing i had to ensure all this was in place even as i pursued my careerthere have been lots of youngsters trying to emulate his lethal leftarm bowling there may now be many more seeking inspiration from the way he has led his life as a diabetic