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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 2 | Page : 232-233 |
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Time to resort to innovative methods for the prevention and better control of diabetes
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava1, Prateek Saurabh Shrivastava2
1 Vice-Principal Curriculum, Member of the Medical Education Unit and Institute Research Council, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, India
2 Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Submission | 11-Jun-2019 |
| Date of Acceptance | 10-Oct-2019 |
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Jan-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth - Deemed to be University, Tiruporur, Guduvancherry Main Road, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram - 603 108, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/bjhs.bjhs_27_19
How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Time to resort to innovative methods for the prevention and better control of diabetes. BLDE Univ J Health Sci 2020;5:232-3 |
Dear Sir,
From the public health perspective, diabetes is a major global concern, and this is predominantly because of the high prevalence and disease-associated disabling and fatal complications.[1] In fact, the available recent estimates indicate that diabetes was the seventh most common reason for death in 2016, and in excess of 1.5 million deaths have been attributed to the same.[1] Further, the sufferings linked with the disease are not only medical but it even has a significant financial component for the affected individual, family, and community, and also an immense burden on the health-care delivery system.[1],[2]
Moreover, the impact and cost of the impaired quality of life (in terms of pain, inability to perform routine work, anxiety, etc.) are extremely difficult to measure.[3] In the global mission to contain and respond to this pandemic, strengthening of the surveillance and prevention and control activities (viz., lifestyle modifications, self-care, avoiding use of tobacco and its products, etc.) has been envisaged time and again.[1],[2],[4] Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has come out with evidence-based guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and strengthening of the screening activities for the disease-related predisposing factors.[1]
However, despite the initiation of various activities and awareness campaigns, we are falling short in our efforts to reduce the impact of the disease.[1],[2],[3] Acknowledging the fact, the mobile phones have become a universal entity and that there is a precedence of definite better outcomes in the field of health care through mobile-based apps, the WHO has developed a similar app for the prevention and control of diabetes.[5] In fact, this application has numerous inbuilt features (such as practical advice about risk factors, strategies for better management, signs to detect complications, and reminder services through text messages).[5]
A similar kind of app has been used for the containment of the disease in Senegal, and the outcomes have been quite encouraging.[5] The app serves the best purpose of empowering the people with the relevant information pertaining to the disease at the right time and gives them a chance to take an informed decision.[5] Moreover, due to the periodic reminders, even the family members can involve themselves in the care of the patient, which as a whole aids in improving the quality of life of the patient and the family.[5]
In conclusion, in an era, which is dominated by the problem of diabetes globally, the time has come when we start diverting our attention toward innovative approaches to contain the disease and not focus only on the conventional strategies. It is high time that we start using the modern techniques, including mobile or web technology and come out with those solutions which have the potential to reach the masses and influence their way of thinking for their own betterment and empowerment.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | |
| 2. | Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Preparing the world to meet diabetes-related needs of the refugee population. J Res Med Sci 2016;21:60.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 3. | Jorgetto JV, Franco LJ. The impact of diabetes mellitus on quality of life-Differences between genders. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2018;17:11-7. |
| 4. | Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Promotion of physical activity: A crucial strategy to delay the onset of non-communicable diseases. Muller J Med Sci Res 2017;8:106-7. [Full text] |
| 5. | |
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