Understanding Diabetes: Everything You Should Know
Professor Shashank Joshi, President, Indian Academy of Diabetes & Consultant Endocrinologist, Lilavati Hospital & Joshi Clinic, & Dr. Prashanth Subramanian, Head of Medical Affairs, Emerging Asia & India, Diabetes Care, Abbott, share their insights on diabetes and how to manage the condition better. Professor Shashank Joshi: The status of diabetes prevalence in India underscores a pressing public health challenge, with approximately 101 million individuals diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 136 million in pre-diabetic stages as per a recent ICMR study.
Over the past decade, a sharp 44% increase in diagnosed cases. This escalating trend can be attributed to multifactorial determinants including demographic transitions, urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary habits. Professor Shashank Joshi: Diabetes presents a complex landscape, involving fluctuating glucose levels and potential comorbidities like heart disease and obesity.
There's a close link between diabetes and obesity, both tied to heart disease biomarkers. Diabetes poses risks such as hypertension and high cholesterol, making people with diabetes two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. These issues are interconnected and require a holistic approach, including lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and weight management.
Moreover, early detection and regular monitoring of glucose levels, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are essential in preventing cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes. Using technology like CGM to keep a check on blood glucose levels further enhances management precision, helping timely adjustments in treatment. 3. What are some holistic ways to effectively manage diabetes?
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