‘Diabetes — a global health emergency’

Many at high risk of developing the disease, say experts

“Diabetes is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st Century. Each year more and more people live with this condition, which can result in life-changing complications,” Head of Department of Endocrinology, Osmania Medical College Rakesh Kumar Sahay said.

He delivered the keynote address at a one day National Workshop on ‘Big Data Applications in Drug Repurposing’ jointly organised by Department of Chemistry & IT GITAM University, Hyderabad and Centre for Molecular Modelling – IICT at GITAM campus on Monday.

Risk factors

“In addition to the 415 million adults who are estimated to currently have diabetes, there are 318 million adults with impaired glucose tolerance, which puts them at high risk of developing the disease in the future. The diabetes affected people may increase about 642 million by 2040,” Professor Sahay said.

The professor of endocrinology pointed out that high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, overweight, high fat and cholesterol levels and family history of diabetes are the risk factors for diabetes. Balanced diet, regular physical exercise and change in the lifestyle can reduce the diabetes disease, he opined.

Collaborative research in biomedical sciences can achieve much more, Manisha Sahay of Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad said. She expressed displeasure at the treatment of the kidney failure patients without finding the actual cause.

Leading lights

Eminent professors, doctors and scientists from academia and research attended came together for new drugs discovery and repurposing.

Vladimir Poroikov and Druzhilovskiy Dimitry of Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, G. Narahari Sastry and Radhakrishna of IICT, Hyderabad and Rajesh Kumar Goel of Punjab University were the guests of honour.

GITAM Hyderabad Pro Vice- Chancellor N. Siva Prasada chaired the inaugural session. Principal of School of Technology Ch. Sanjay, HoD of Department of IT M. Akkalakshmi, HoD of Department of Chemistry G. Rambabu participated in the workshop.