The TOI Medithon Part 4 brought together leading healthcare professionals, diabetes experts and participants to address critical challenges related to diabetes management and prevention. The event served as a comprehensive platform to raise awareness and equip individuals with concrete strategies to combat this chronic disease. With four dedicated sessions, the Medithon deepened the understanding of diabetes, its complications, the interaction of obesity and the importance of lifestyle modifications for prevention, management and potential reversal.
Living well with diabetes: Getting to know diabetes
The first session started with experts explaining what diabetes is, what are the myths and how to identify the metabolic disorder. Dr. Vidhya Rajeev Jahagirdar shed light on the myths surrounding diabetes, focusing on the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes. She explained the different types of diabetes and their distinct characteristics. Dr. Archana Juneja expanded on gender differences in diabetes, highlighting the protective role of estrogen in women and its diminishing effect after menopause. She explained the impact of these hormonal changes on diabetes management in women. Dr Beena Bansal addressed the asymptomatic nature of diabetes, revealing that 80% of patients do not experience any symptoms, highlighting the importance of regular screening for early detection.
Living well with diabetes: Diabetes – Risk factors and complications
One of the main reasons why diabetes is so talked about is the complications that arise from it. Dr. G. Sri Harsha pointed out that diabetes contributes significantly to cardiac deaths, especially among young people. He explained how several factors interact with diabetes to increase the risk of sudden cardiac events. Dr. Amit Goel discussed the impact of diabetes on kidney health, highlighting reduced blood supply, loss of albumin, and the role of hypertension in exacerbating kidney complications. Dr Mahesh DM highlighted the importance of managing high blood sugar levels to prevent complications that affect major and minor blood vessels, which in turn can damage vital organs such as the heart.
Living well with diabetes: diabetes and obesity
Obesity and diabetes go hand in hand. Several health agencies and government organizations have worked together to raise awareness about obesity and its contribution to the development of diabetes. Dr. S. Sridhar defined obesity as a major risk factor for diabetes, referring to the World Health Organization’s BMI guidelines for classifying obesity. Dr. Parag Shah explored factors other than sedentary lifestyles that contribute to obesity, including genetic predisposition, cultural practices such as overeating during pregnancy, childhood obesity, and addiction to packaged foods. Dr. Pramod Gandhi explained how obesity exacerbates diabetes management by causing insulin resistance. He advocated lifestyle changes to mitigate its effects.
Living well with diabetes: prevention, management and reversal
If diabetes is a threat, diabetes reversal is the savior and during the last session of the medithon, the experts highlighted this. Dr Saptarshi Bhattacharya stressed the importance of inculcating healthy habits from the start, including maintaining physical activity and reducing harmful addictions. Dr Amitabh Sur highlighted the effectiveness of a balanced diet and exercise in reducing diabetes. He recommended focusing on diet quality and quantity, ensuring fair representation of carbohydrates and proteins, and carefully monitoring calorie intake. Dr. Chandani Seth emphasized dietary changes, advocating increasing fiber intake through vegetables and fruits, changing carbohydrate types, and reducing salt intake. She proposed the “8-inch plate rule”: half the plate for salads, a quarter for lean proteins, and a quarter for grains.
TOI Medithon Part 4 provided an enlightening platform to approach diabetes holistically. Through expert insights and practical advice, the event empowered attendees to take control of their health through informed lifestyle changes, bringing hope and resilience to the journey to living well with diabetes .
Watch TOI Medithon Part 4 here