CME on ‘New Therapeutic Strategies for Type 2 Diabetes’ held at JNMC
Aligarh: Experts from across the country discussed India’s alarming rise in type 2 diabetes, which has triggered critical warnings and the need for healthy lifestyle choices essential to diabetes during the National Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on ‘New Therapeutic Strategies for Type 2 Diabetes’ organised by the Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
The Chief Guest of the inaugural function, AMU Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof Akhtar Haseeb said, “When symptoms of type 2 diabetes gradually tend to develop, they are often mistaken as part of the normal ageing process leaving it undetected for years.”
He added that the earlier this condition is diagnosed; the sooner people can take steps to work on improving their health.
“I am sure that this CME will encourage and push budding pharmacologists to broaden their knowledge and expand abilities,” remarked Prof Haseeb.
Attending the function as the Guest of Honour, renowned paediatrician, Dr Hameeda Tariq pointed out that type 2 diabetes is fuelled in part by rising obesity rates.
“The sedentary lifestyles and a diet with high refined carbohydrates and bad fats followed by people not only in the elite classes, but also the lower sections of economic strata are the major risk factors,” she said.
Dr Hameeda added: “So it stands to reason that if we change those risk factors there is a good chance we can stop the tidal wave of type 2 diabetes cases.”
Prof Rakesh Bhargava, Officiating Dean, Faculty of Medicine said: “Significant evidence exists that supports a range of interventions to improve diabetes outcomes. Diabetes can have serious health consequences, and new therapeutic approaches are needed.”
Prof Shahid Siddiqui, Principal, JNMC emphasised that five to ten percent of the population with diabetes experience secondary failure and it is important that clinicians understand the limitations of some current therapies.
“However, the nonglycemic effects of several new therapies to treat diabetes may be advantageous for positive outcomes,” he added.
Organising Chairman of the CME, Prof Mohammad Nasiruddin said that the goal of doctors treating diabetic people is to make them live a healthy life, avoiding obesity and stress. He also spoke on the importance of physical exercise and eating clean food.
Dr Anjum Chugtai, Co-Organising Secretary of the programme said that the aim of this CME is to carry out an update on the benefits and limitations of different drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Initial intervention should focus on life style changes, he pointed out.
Delivering the welcome address, the Organising Secretary, Dr Jameel Ahmad said that the organising committee of the CME has put an exceptional scientific programme in the area of pharmacotherapy of diabetes with a blend of clinical pharmacologists, endocrinologists, paediatricians and general practitioners.
Dr Irfan Ahmad Khan, Joint Organising Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks.
Dr Abeer Masood conducted the programme.