Nearly 400 people with known diabetes (type-1) below the age of 30 years underwent the comprehensive annual screening for their complication due to their health condition at the annual medical camp- 'Diabetes Onset on Youth' organised with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday.
The participants included children, teenagers, and young adults till 30 years of age from Delhi-NCR for the annual screening process which is a mandatory part of their clinical practices.
Patients were from AIIMS endocrinology department, paediatrics (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital.
"The idea for these camp is that all people with diabetes need to undergo a periodic evaluation and annual evaluation which is more detailed and also includes screening for complications associated with diabetes," (Prof) Dr Nikhil Tandon, head of endocrinology and metabolism department at AIIMS told ANI.
In 2006, ICMR constituted a Registry of People with Diabetes with Young Age at Onset (YDR), to maintain a data- Youth Onset of Diabetes.
"The effort is to try and make it easier for these individuals who already have diabetes. This medical camp at AIIMS is a single-window, single day system and all that patients require for investigation was taken care," Dr Tandon said.
Experts say that Type -1 diabetes occurs usually in the first two decades of life when body's immune system destroys the cell in the pancreas which generates insulin, as a result, these young people do not have insulin production inside their body. So they are compelled to take insulin from outside and dependent on insulin for most of their survival.
On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes occurs mostly in the older age group population. Under this health complication, the initial part of the disease is associated with a condition called- insulin resistance diabetes, though the body produces insulin the body's tissue remains insensitive towards action. Therefore, doctors need to give more & more insulin and hence a lot of time, we need to give medications by mouth is also enough to take care of the process.
In 2014, AIIMS started the annual evaluation of people with known diabetes wherein 200 participants got registered and underwent annual health check for the complications associated with the disease. The project is funded by ICMR.
Investigations like haemoglobin A1c, proteinuria or microalbuminuria in urine, cholesterol, and fats in the blood (lipid profile) and kidney function test were performed on participants.
Citing the latest data published in the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Dr Tandan said that currently, India has a burden of 100,000 people suffering from known diabetes.
Patients and attendants were sensitised through nukkad nataks, poster making, and quiz competitions.
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