Redefining the Therapeutic Wheel of Diabetes Management

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the biggest global health emergencies of the 21st century. As per the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 50% of all people with diabetes live in just three countries: China (109.6 million), India (69.2 million) and the USA (29.3 million). According to ICMR-INDIAB National study, the Indian Diabetic study, around 62.4 million people had diabetes in 2011 and 77 million had prediabetes. Many Asian races show a tendency for fat deposition in the abdominal area which is known as central adiposity. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are closely associated with central adiposity. Traditionally diagnosis of diabetes was done by measuring FPG (Fasting Plasma Glucose) and OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) is often despite several international guidelines recommending HbA1C to diagnose diabetes. However, HbA1c cannot be used as sole criteria for diagnosis of diabetes in Indian settings, but it can be used in settings where an appropriate standardization method is available.