New Delhi : With over 340 million people living with diabetes, the chronic ailment remains one of the world’s biggest health concerns, with doctors and researchers working extensively to find ways to control the rising incidence of the disease. The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India kicked off its 41st National Annual Conference today, bringing together 4000 delegates and experts on diabetes to discuss their latest observations and findings in the field.

Leading names in the field from India and abroad began their discussions and observations regarding various facets of the diabetes and its consequences on a person’s health on the first day of the three-day Conference that began at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida today.

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) is India’s premiere organization in diabetes research whose objective is to promote indigenous research in the country that will enable the medical fraternity devise solutions more indigenous to the country.

The Presidential Oration was delivered by Dr V Mohan, President, RSSDI, who discussed a new paradigm in treatment of diabetes, that of reviving the stunned beta cells. Beta cells are a type of cell in the pancreas whose primary function is to store and release insulin. Diabetes has a major co-relation with the disruption in functioning of the beta cell.

“In the natural history of diabetes, the onset of β-cell failure appears to occur much earlier than previously believed. Landmark studies such as the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) have shown that by the time that the diagnosis of overt diabetes is made, the patient has lost over 50% of β-cell function. It is thus becoming clear that physicians should intervene aggressively with therapies that may improve β-cell function and this should be done as early as possible in the natural history of the disorder,” said Dr Mohan.

Doctors said researchers world over were now focusing on prevention of beta cell damage to prevent diabetes. The delegates also discussed the burden of diabetes in India and management paradigms for diabetics in the country.

Inaugurating the conference, Sir Michael Hirst, President, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) emphasized that every diabetic needed care and the rising numbers of diabetics posed a challenge before the medical fraternity.

“Education of professionals is very important to control, prevent and treat diabetes. The rising number of diabetics is worrisome. This poses a huge challenge before IDF,” he said. Sir Michael Hirst will also deliver his lecture on the second day of the conference tomorrow.

“Diabetes is a major issue of concern in India with more than 63 million diabetic patients and 77 millions prediabetics, one third of whom may get converted to diabetes if preventive strategies are not implemented. To address this threat, it is crucial to promote more research in the country and analyze our findings in the local context, rather than depending on western studies,” said Dr S V Madhu, Organizing Chairman, RSSDI 2013 and Head, Department of Endocrinology & Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi.

Dr S V Madhu will present his findings tomorrow on the pertinent subject of ‘Postprandial Lipids and Diabetes: Newer Links’. Dr B M Makkar, Honorary Treasurer, RSSDI-2013 and Director, Diabetes & Obesity Centre will also present his latest observations on unconventional therapies that are in the pipeline for diabetes preention and control.

Dr Rajeev Chawla, Organizing Secretary, RSSDI and Director, North Delhi Diabetes Centre, presented his findings on the role of DPP4 Inhibitors in reversing oxidative stress that can benefit patients. DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of oral hypoglycemics that reduce glucagon and blood glucose levels.

Legendary Indian sprinter, ‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh will also speak from the platform of the conference in a session supported by Ranbaxy on November 9. The third day of the event will start with an early morning Walkathon in which as many as 5000 school children are expected to participate. The RSSDI Diabetes Walk is aimed at spreading awareness about the ailment and the importance of physical fitness.

Source : Nidhi sinha