FREE INSULIN WILL GO A LONG WAY IN CONTROLLING DIABETES

Dr A K Mondal, a renowned nephrologist and diabetologist based in United States has said that those suffering from diabetes should work towards maintaining healthy blood sugar level at 200 or below through medicines, like use of insulin, to avoid complications in life.

Insulin Injection

Dr Mondal praised the state government for starting free distribution of insulin saying that this would go a long way in controlling diabetes in the state, where prevalence of disease was quite high, and problems associated with it.

He further said that keeping sugar level under control would prevent the damage caused by diabetes, especially to kidneys and keep people away from painful and expensive dialysis.

Addressing a press conference at the Goa Medical College in presence of Dean, Dr V N Jindal, Dr N Dubashi and Dr J P Tiwari, where he participated in continuing medical education programme, Dr Mondal said that it was the responsibility of the patients to ensure that the blood sugar did not go beyond the “limits” by regularly taking medication.

Dr Mondal said that doctors also had a duty to control diabetes and prevent fall out from various problems associated with the disease like hypertension, foot ulcers, gangrene, kidney problems etc, adding that if left uncontrolled many problems could arise leading to amputation, etc.

Stating that unattended high blood sugar levels in the body of a human being could damage the blood vessels and could cause problems like gangrene and kidney damage, he said that the disease could lead to prolonged hospitalization, the burden of which was on the family of the patient in particular and society in general.

He further said that huge funds were required to fight the disease and keep it under control. He also said that high prevalence of diabetes in the country could be because of environment factors, water pollution and viruses present here, though there was no clear proof to say that these factors were the main reasons. Dr Mondal said that diabetes was present in younger people, the reasons for which yet to be found out.

Those suffering from diabetes should strictly follow recommended diet regimen and lead a healthy life style, he added. As regards to genetic factors being responsible in passage of disease down the family line, he said that there was no conclusive proof to indicate that.

On the issue of prevalence of high number of kidney problems in Canacona, Dr J P Tiwari, professor of nephrology in GMC, said that though a study was conducted it has not shown a conclusive cause. Dr Mondal went on to add that decades of study in the Balkan region have also not been able to pinpoint the cause for the disease. (NT)