Managing BP, vax, monitoring key to better diabetes care: Experts
Nagpur: From testing 10 lakh diabetic patients for high blood pressure to using real-time glucose monitoring machines, building rural diabetes care systems, and vaccinating adults, top medical experts laid out a people-centric roadmap for better diabetes care across the country.
Speaking at the ongoing 12th Hello Diabetes Academia (HDA) in Nagpur, national faculty members shared actionable ideas that blend public health outreach with cutting-edge technology.
Dr Anuj Maheshwari, president-elect of RSSDI and president of Asia Pacific Hypertension Society, said the RSSDI (Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India) launched a national project from May 30 to test blood pressure in 10 lakh diabetic patients.
"High BP and diabetes go hand in hand. But we need solid Indian data to understand the link between the two," Dr Maheshwari said.
He also unveiled a three-year rural diabetes care project. In the first year, RSSDI teams will visit 1,000 villages across India (with populations up to 3,000), conduct house-to-house blood sugar testing, and identify diabetic patients. "Diabetes is not just an urban disease. In fact, the difference between rural and urban rates is now just 1%.
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But in rural India, the real danger is people don't even accept they have diabetes," he said.
In year two, patients will receive glucometers and BP machines, along with guidance on how to manage their condition. In year three, they will be checked for diabetes-related complications.
Dr Amit Gupta, senior faculty from IDF School of Diabetes, highlighted the growing use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices.
"With CGM, you prick only once, and then your sugar levels are tracked in real-time for up to three weeks. It's very useful to effectively adjust insulin doses," he said. He added that CGM is particularly helpful for those whose sugar levels fluctuate widely. Though currently expensive, he believes prices will drop as usage increases.
Dr Jyotirmay Paul, national president, Association of Physicians of India (API), stressed the need for adult vaccination awareness, especially among senior citizens. He shared that API prepared an adult vaccination schedule, similar to the one for children, and plans to submit it to the central govt, demanding its inclusion in public health programmes.
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