THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though modern medicine has truly succeeded in increasing the lifespan of the individuals at a global level, the debilitating complications of poorly managed diabetes such as kidney and heart diseases are on the rise, especially in the elderly, said experts. The experts were participating in a discussion at the continuing medical education program organised by P.Kesavadev Trust and Jothydev’s Professional Education Forum. The recently released international treatment guidelines for diabetes, hypertension, diabetic kidney disease were discussed at the session.
The major amendments to the recently released 2018 international treatment guidelines include newer management protocols for diabetes and blood pressure, among diabetes patients. These guidelines emphasise the importance of adopting treatment protocols avoiding the risk of low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) in elderly. If kidney disease is identified at a very early stage in diabetes, the management strategy must be to halt the progression and prevent the development of further complications. Home blood pressure monitoring, prescribing kidney friendly medications etc. can, to a considerable extent, prevent the patient from ending up in miserable procedures like dialysis, kidney transplantations etc.
Since a substantial number of deaths in diabetes worldwide have been attributed to heart attacks, the revised international guidelines also advocate the user of newer treatment options which have been proven to be beneficial for the heart to prevent cardiovascular deaths in diabetes. The CME was inaugurated by Dr Madhusudanan Nair. Lectures were delivered by Dr Ashwin David, Dr Arun Shankar, Dr Rohit Warrier, Dr Beena Unnikrishnan, Dr Jothydev Kesavadev, Dr P.V. Ajith Kumar, Dr Benny P.V, Dr Vasudevan Potty and Ms Ritu Johari(Mumbai). More than 150 physicians participated in the event.
