World Diabetes Day is observed every year on 14th November, the birthday of Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) announces a different theme for this day every year to highlight different aspects of diabetes and spread awareness. The theme for 2022 is “Education to protect tomorrow”.
The theme is a very apt and important one because awareness and education about diabetes and its long-term complications on the heart, kidney, eyes, nerves, liver, etc will motivate persons living with diabetes to assess the status of their internal organs on a regular basis. This is especially important since, like diabetes itself, its complications are also silent. Regular assessment, regardless of whether symptoms are present or not, is the key to longevity and better quality of life.
“Diabetes Education” encompasses the knowledge of new trends in the field of diet, lifestyle management, technology as an aid in managing diabetes, newer ways of assessing blood sugar, better medication to control sugars, medication to prevent or halt the progression of heart and kidney damage related to diabetes and much more.
In the last two years, weight loss has emerged as the number one factor in the best control of diabetes, to the extent of even causing remission of diabetes. Several research studies have given elegant results in this regard. Today, remission of type 2 diabetes is a reality, whether by lifestyle modification or by metabolic (bariatric) surgery.
Newer classes of medicines are available today that work far beyond just reducing blood sugar. These drugs can induce weight loss in a healthy manner. Some of these newer classes help protect the heart and the kidney and can help prevent progression if damage has already begun.
Artificial Intelligence has entered the field of diabetes management in a big way. For example, a retinal photograph can be taken in the outpatient clinic and by way of AI, a report is generated on the presence or absence of retinopathy. This is a good screening test that can be done on an annual basis.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has revolutionized the way blood glucose is monitored. A small sensor attached to the back of the arm can continuously read the blood glucose in real-time, giving a minute-to-minute reading and enabling patients to watch their diet and exercise in a better way.
Decades ago, the father of modern diabetology, Eliot Joslin, had said, “The diabetic who knows most, lives longest”. This is the exact theme of the year for World Diabetes Day; “Education to protect tomorrow”.
DR NEETA DESHPANDE, MD, FRCP (Edin), PG Endo (Lond), ASBP Obesity Cert (USA)
