Injecting daily dose of insulin before having food is a part of routine for many people living with diabetes, be it type 1 or type 2. Many had to inject the insulin twice or thrice in a day as per requirements. This will soon become the thing of past.
The future insulin will be glucose sensitive and ‘smart’. It will understand patient’s need and release the exact amount of insulin the patient needs. Taking this insulin once in a week will be enough and most importantly, the next level of insulin will be available in the form of a pill to swallow replacing painful injections.
The doctors who spoke about advancements in diabetes and heart treatment told many exciting things about monitoring and treatment of both the lifestyle-based diseases on Wednesday in a plenary session of the 108th Indian Science Congress. Dr. S.G.Vasista, senior pulmonologist, chaired the session.
Interestingly, both the speakers – Cardiologist Dr ShantanuSengupta and Diabetologist Dr Sunil Surajprasad Gupta – and the chairman were from Nagpur.
“Machine learning, artificial intelligence and smart watches are helping doctors in identifying diseases at earlier stages. In India, we have a huge number of people suffering from pre-diabetic and pre-hypertensive conditions. Tests should start from age of 30 years for men and 40 years for women,” said Dr Sengupta, Director, Sengupta Hospital and Research Institute, Nagpur.
He added that it has become easier with the advanced monitoring tools like watches and mobile applications to keep vital records of heart pumping and sugar levels. But, one must apply mind while using this artificial intelligence. “These machines are to help us out and not to add into our stress. So, use them but always apply your mind,” said Dr Sengupta.
Adding into this, Dr Sunil Surajprasad Gupta, Fellow of American College of Endocrinology and FRCP (London, Glasgow & Edinburgh), said that the diabetes has different sub-types and every individual has to be treated with a different set of medicines and mixed therapies. “The Type 1 diabetes has five new subgroups while the type 2 has four. Medicines are different for every sub-group now. Earlier, lifestyle modification was the only remedy for the people having pre-diabetic conditions. But now, we have approved drug Metformin for obese/overweight pre-diabetic persons,” Dr Gupta said.
Both doctors explained how phenotype of Indian people aredifferent from that of Europians or Americans and underlined the importance of local studies. They also quoted several locally-conducted studies and figures during their presentations.
