Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centres presented 6 abstracts at the 6th World Congress of DiabetesIndia held from 9-12 April 2015 at Chennai, India. Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev lectured on ‘Understanding Glycemic Variability & Glycemic Profile with Ambulatory Glucose Profile’ where emerging evidence on Glycemic Variability as a major contributing factor for oxidative stress was discussed. The upcoming Freestyle Libre Pro is a new technology avoiding the use of a finger stick glucometer calibration. Freestyle Libre Pro provides retrospective data for 14 days. Ambulatory Glucose Profile which collapses CGM reading over 14 days which looks like a simple 24 hrs format. A 14 day CGM is found to be almost 95% predictive for a 1 month data. AGP also provides average glucose and details on low and high sugars.

Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev also lectured on ‘Clinical Significance of CGM: Adopting and Adjusting Therapies.’ CGM has evolved as a popular investigation in India. iPro2 is the device which provides retrospective data over 3-6 days. We have earlier presented data on the utility of CGM in diabetes and pre-diabetes as the visual appearance of the data serves as strong motivational tool for subjects to adopt stringent lifestyle modifications. iPro2 CGM is of immense use in T2DM patients for modifying lifestyles, adopting different treatment regimens, avoiding nocturnal hypoglycemia and addressing glucose variability. CGM should be utilised by clinicians in all eligible candidates provided there is time and dedicated team.

Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev’s 3rd lecture was on’ Long Term Consequences of Alternate Therapies for Diabetes- Myths vs. Realities.’ Diabetes is an ancient disease and so also is the Indian sub-continent. Being a lifelong disease, which is expensive to efficiently manage and much more expensive if not efficiently managed, even educated patients get attracted to traditional systems of medicine presuming that they are more effective, cheaper and free of side effects. The efficacy and adverse effects of these alternate systems are largely unknown. The lecture explicitly discussed the merits and demerits of Alternate or complimentary therapies.

Dr.Arun Shankar, Unit Head and Consultant Diabetologist, JDC Trivandrum lectured on ‘What are the point to be highlighted by a Diabetologist in a clinic to educator and dietitian’. The success of treatment of diabetes is solely dependent on a team based approach. The Diabetologist as the head of the team should provide training to the team members with periodic reinforcement. Prescribing medications for diabetes does not translate to better outcomes in diabetes. It is impossible for the diabetes physician to spend hours with a single patient. He discussed that duty of physician to train the dietitian and diabetes educator to fulfil the responsibilities by imparting adequate professional training.

Ms.Sunitha Jothydev lectured on ‘The Elderly Living Alone with Diabetes’ where challenges of managing diabetes in the elderly living alone were discussed. Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev also chaired a session at DI.