Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry organised a Special Session on “DIABETES, MYTHS & FACTS”  at the Chamber.

The Session was addressed by Dr. Bijay Patni, MBBS, MHSC, Fellow of Diabetes India, American College of Physicians, USA and Ms. Puja Karnani Agarwal, Functional Medicine Practice certified from Institute of Functional Medicine, USA.

Dr. Bijay Patni, MBBS, MHSC, Fellow of Diabetes India, American College of Physicians, USA in his address said that in India, 1 in 7 adults is diagnosed as being diabetic. By 2030, India is projected to have 101 million people with diabetes, now the number is 86 million.

Dr. Patni mentioned that low blood sugar is important for preventing some problems caused by diabetes, including eye diseases that lead to vision loss or blindness, Kidney disease and nerve damage. High blood glucose often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages of diabetes or when levels are only moderately elevated. This silent” nature of diabetes can create a false sense of security, leading some people to reduce or stop their medications.

Dr. Patni pointed out some myths related to diabetics. He said that health life style, environment, awareness can prevent adverse effect of diabetes. People who are pre diabetic needs to be more careful.

Ms. Puja Karnani Agarwal, Functional Medicine Practice certified from Institute of Functional Medicine, USA in her address said that PCOS and type 2 diabetes represent different clinical manifestations of the same syndrome, with their phenotypic differences due to the presence or absence of a coincidental genetic defect at the level of the ovary or pancreas.

She also suggested that good lifestyle strategies can help to reduce insulin resistance. Intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity, lowers fasting glucose, and supports metabolic healing.
Shri Rajendra Khandelwal, Chairman, Council on Health & Wellness in his Welcome Address said that the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is a global umbrella organisation of 251 national diabetes associations from 158 countries and territories working for improving and empowering the lives of 590 million people living with diabetes.

Shri Khandelwal mentioned that It is predicted that by 2050, 1 in 8 adults, which translates to approximately 853 million people will be affected by diabetes, an increase of 46%. Various reports suggest that every 4 out of 5 adults (81%) suffering with diabetes live in the low- and middle-income countries.

The Session was concluded with hearty Vote of Thanks proposed by Shri Anil Kumar Malawat, Co-Chairman, Council on Health & Wellness, MCCI