A virtual assistance-based lifestyle intervention was effective, cost-effective and acceptable in reducing risk factors for diabetes in young employees in the information technology industry, and is potentially scalable.
India is experiencing an escalating epidemic of diabetes for which the most cost-effective solution is prevention. Awareness is the first step towards prevention. We undertook a questionnaire-based study to evaluate gaps in awareness of different implications of diabetes among various sections of the urban population of Pune. Individuals aged ≥13 years (378 diabetic, 1122 non-diabetic) from different socio-economic backgrounds were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Awareness regarding causes, symptoms, complications, treatment and preventive measures, curability of diabetes and long-term implications of diabetes in pregnancy was evaluated. An awareness score was calculated based on the percent of total questions correctly answered. Of those surveyed, 78 % scored less than 50 %, 44 % did not know the meaning of diabetes, 30 % could not name any of the risk factors, symptoms, complications and preventive measures for diabetes, and 70 % were unaware of the long-term risks of diabetes in pregnancy. As a group, diabetic participants scored marginally better than non-diabetic participants (mean score 39 vs. 31 %; P<0.001). Participants at high risk of diabetes (sedentary workers, non-diabetic participants with first-degree family history of diabetes and non-diabetic hypertensive participants) had poor knowledge about the condition (mean scores <40 %). Lower age, lower education and male gender were independently associated with poor awareness; education was the strongest predictor. Awareness regarding different implications of diabetes is poor in the population of Pune. There is a need for widespread and extensive public education campaigns to raise awareness and contribute to the national diabetes prevention initiatives.
Insulin is an integral part of Type 1 diabetes management. Patient education is of utmost importance to ensure proper injection technique for getting appropriate glycaemic control as well as to avoid injection site adverse effects. Commonest injection site adverse effect is lipodystrophy, attributable to localized manifestation of the pharmacological action of insulin. However, we present a case where incorrect injection technique led to an unusual presentation of injection site adverse effect. Apart from the abnormal skin changes, the incorrect technique also adversely affected the glycaemic control. Though less prominent, some marks are still evident one and a half years after correction of the injection technique. However, the glycaemic control has substantially improved. This emphasizes the need of proper patient education regarding insulin injection technique.
Background:We assessed the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors in Information Technology (IT) employees as they are exposed to adverse lifestyle.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, health records were obtained from two IT industries in Pune. Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors [hyperglycemia, high blood pressure (BP), hypertriglyceridemia, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and overweight/obesity] was determined using standard cutoffs. We also examined clustering of risk factors (≥two risk factors).Results:Data were available on 1,350 of 5,800 employees (mean age: 33 ± 6 years, 78% men). Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was 2.5% and 13.5%, respectively. Prevalence of prediabetes, borderline high BP, hypertriglyceridemia, high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol, and overweight/obesity was 6.5%, 20.3%, 21%, 22.1%, 70.1%, and 51.4%, respectively. Risk factor clustering was observed in 63.5% that increased with age (P < 0.001).Conclusion:Given the high burden of risk factors at relatively young age, spreading awareness and promoting healthy lifestyle through workplace interventions are warranted.
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