New tech to manage diabetes

Thiruvananthapuram: With the new Apple Watch capable of recording the heart rhythm and providing an ECG (Electro Cardiograph) for the common man, management of diabetes is heading towards a paradigm shift.

Since ages, researchers were confronted with the challenge of very low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) induced changes in cardiac rhythm and even sudden death of patients with diabetes. Many new medications and technologies for diabetes have been developed exclusively with the advantage of preventing hypoglycaemia to save the lives.

The treatment of diabetes is heading towards a paradigm shift with features like heart rhythm recording available along with new wearable devices and the simultaneous recording of glucose levels continuously and the introduction of newer gadgets with improved accuracy, said Dr Jothydev Kesavadev while delivering the Diacon Gold Medal Oration at International Diabetes Convention, Ahmedabad.

All stages of diabetes require the use of technologies for an in-depth evaluation, treatment or both. Diabetes being a silent killer, patients often used these technologies only for treating the expensive complications of the disease such as those affecting the heart, kidney, sexual organs and the eye. Instead, the early use of technologies for prevention of complications, when patients are still free of symptoms of the disease are to be encouraged  to retain the quality of life and avoid future treatment costs, said Dr.Jothydev.

There are 74 million people in India affected by diabetes, 60 percent of whom do not even know they have the disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of heart attacks, dialysis, blindness, leg amputations, and stroke. All these complications are preventable only when more and more patients, as well as the public, become aware of comprehensive disease management which is far beyond merely controlling the blood sugars.

At the function, senior diabetologist and founder president of RSSDI (Research Society for the study of Diabetes in India), Prof O.P Gupta, Diacon chairman Banshi Saboo and Dr.Asha. N. Shah handed over the Diacon Gold Medal to Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev in recognition of his research and accomplishments in preventing complications with the help of diabetes technologies.