Better monitoring of diabetes can curb down the burden

New Delhi: Recent advancements in the field of medication for diabetes are revolutionizing and open a wide range of better treatment methods. Evolution of anti-diabetic drug, improved monitoring devices and better understanding of roles of healthy diet and exercise are adding up to the positive outcomes for many diabetic patients.

“In terms of other injectable drugs meant for diabetics, until recently all we had was insulin, but of late, there are various new additions that mimic natural hormones other than insulin. Apart from syringe, there's an insulin pen injector, which is a device that looks similar to an ink pen, except that the cartridge has to be filled with insulin. Besides, a totally different form of insulin, which is inhaled human insulin is the recent advancement. It is rapid-acting insulin which a patient can inhale for instant relief.” Said Dr. Pankaj Aneja, Senior Consultant - Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

Newer drugs are available in form of injectable and oral anti-diabetes drugs are safer and have better control over the disease. These new class of medications are intended to boost insulin production, lower insulin resistance, reduce the production of glucose by the liver or slow down the absorption of carbohydrates by the intestine.

"In the past, insulin therapy was used as a last resort, but these days it's often prescribed at an earlier stage because of its benefits. In fact, it is must for the survival of people whose pancreas stop making insulin. Approximately 40-60% of type 2 diabetes patients use insulin to survive. So, advancement in insulin treatment benefits many diabetics, especially the ones with type 2. In newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes, use of short-term insulin can prove beneficial but it has to be accompanied by a strict diet and regular exercise program." Added Dr. Ajay Agarwal, Senior consultant - Endocrinology, Saroj Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi.

With the advent of blood sugar monitoring devices, monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels have become much easier for patients. However, the newest addition to this area has been the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device which has a tiny sensor that sits under your skin and it continually keeps a check on your sugar levels.

It's convenient as you can even set alarms for low and high levels. It's a wonderful invention as this can save life of people who can’t sense when their blood sugar levels drop down.