The control of sugar consumption can prevent diabetic complications. With over 73 million diabetics in the India, doctors are challenged to bring sugar readings of patients under control. This is where medical experts see that even when treatment options are prescribed, the onus is on the patient to control the sugar consumption, which is the only way to prevent complications arising from disease, stated Dr.Mala Dharmalingam, Professor and HOD, MS Ramaiah Medical College & Hospital and Director, Bangalore Endocrinology & Diabetes Research Centre.

Around 67 percent of Indians are not able to achieve the normal HBA1C levels which is alarming. This is primarily because of the higher consumption of carbohydrates pegged at around 65 percent. The need of the hour is to increase the protein consumption. There is every way for a pre-diabetic to reverse the situation with right diet and exercises, she added.

India also accounts for 85 percent of the life style diseases where diabetes is manifesting early in life. In fact 57.9 percent of the population in the age groups of 20-79 years remain undiagnosed in the country and 66.9 percent are uncontrolled despite the treatment, said Dharmalingam at a session on ‘Unmet in diabetes care- an Indian phenotype perspective which was organized by Astra Zeneca Pharma India here in Bengaluru.

Delving on relationship of Indian phenotype and diabetes, she said that 8 in 10 Indians display a characteristic feature of the abdominal obesity which is the cause of higher insulin resistance and characteristic dyslipidemia. This makes Indians highly vulnerable to developing type 2 diabetes not only among the adult population but also among children.

Pointing out that there is ample clinical evidence to show that Indian diabetes patients end up with complications with a 2-fold increase in cardiovascular diseases and 40-70 percent of renal complications, Dr. Dharmalingam said 57 percent of Indians have central body obesity and 71 percent suffer from hypertension, all of which could be avoided with life style management.

Providing a peek into the current treatment options, she said that insulin secretagogues and insulin sensitizers are the two main options with a slew of drugs spanning from sulfonylureas to Thiazolidinedione which are prescribed by diabetologists. However research is going on for drugs which could prevent many side effects, prove to be simple to consume, reduce the multiple pill burden and be natural in content mimic the insulin produced in the body. “Such a molecule is yet to be discovered even as researchers are looking for a wonder drug option.”

Meanwhile to thwart the life threatening complications with diabetes, Dr. Dharmalingam expressed that control of sugar consumption is the key to prevent diabetic complications and substantial weight loss could keep the disease at bay.