Reduce the risk
DR. A. RAMACHANDRAN
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The diabetes risk score helps identify the undiagnosed cases using non-invasive methods.
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Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) and is mostly a lifestyle disorder.
Hyperglycaemia causes various complications such as cardiovascular disease (heart disease and hypertension), eye disease (retinopathy), dental disease (periodontal and others), kidney disease (nephropathy), foot infections and gangrene leading to amputation, apart from symptoms due to diabetes itself.
Cardiovascular disease is the most common and deadly of diabetic complications.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of diabetes is made by estimating blood glucose. However, the problem can remain undiagnosed without any serious symptoms.
By the time it is diagnosed, other complications may also have developed. Early diagnosis and timely medical care can prevent complications to a great extent.
Taking into consideration the importance of early diagnosis and the practical difficulties in testing blood glucose as a tool for diagnosis, the diabetes risk score has been developed, the silent features of which are given below.
The aim is to identify the undiagnosed without unnecessarily testing everybody and without wasting resources. Risk scores developed for white populations are not applicable to Indians, as the risk factors are different.
Parameters
Hence, based on the findings the risk score has been developed using non-invasive parameters. By assessing the scores, persons likely to have diabetes can be identified. Therefore, only those with higher scores need to be tested.
A score above 21 has high sensitivity and specificity, i.e. the likelihood of detecting diabetes in such people is very high. Therefore, only those people with a score 21 and above need to be tested.
The use of the risk score has many advantages. It can be applied to the population to identify people having undetected diabetes.
It is cost saving as it is derived by simple measurements and avoids unnecessary testing of people who are not likely to have diabetes. The score could be used in hospitals and private medical clinics on a national scale and will be cost-effective.
Lifestyle modification
A diabetic person has a major role in managing the disorder but many lack adequate knowledge regarding diet, exercise, treatment plan and stress management. Health education and psychosocial counselling are important in improving the practical knowledge and reduces the cost of therapy in diabetes.
Several research studies have established that regular lifestyle modification prevents development of diabetes from pre-diabetic states — impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose. The risk reduction is directly related to lifestyle changes which include body weight reduction, if one is obese or overweight, healthy diet, regular physical activity and smoking cessation.
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