Medicine alone couldn’t tackle diabetes, says study by AIIMS and others
Researchers of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Public Health Foundation of India and Emory University in the United States have come together to conduct a new trial across 10 clinical centers in India and Pakistan. The trial reveals that using only medicine to control the rising costs and poor quality of life from diabetes is not the best way to go about it.
This is a first-of-its-kind trial which looks at comprehensive diabetes management in low or middle-income countries. It’s estimated that of the world’s diabetic population- 415 million people, 75 percent are in the low and middle income nations. As for India, we have the second largest diabetic population in the world-almost 70 million.
Low-cost care models which are directed at the patients which include reminders, guideline prompts as well as a culture of quality could help diabetics double the chance of controlling the ailment.
No expensive drugs required
The study notes that the intervention wouldn’t require any new or expensive drugs. But it improves the likelihood of patients managing the disease on their own, with the aid of individualized support and increasing the likelihood of the physician being responsive.
The results of the trial show that the interventions resulted in commendable improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol profiles of the participants. Such control brings hope to diabetics in bringing down related complications including eye diseases, heart diseases and kidney failure- all too common problems in South Asia.
The benefits, notes the study were found to be similar in both public and private diabetes clinics-a pointer to the fact that health inequalities can be cut down provided there’s a structural care in place.
The findings make sense not just in the context of India, Pakistan and the U.S.Other countries with less than optimal diabetes care and health disparities can also benefit.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, based in USA.
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