ASSOCHAM’s ‘Illness To Wellness’ Series: Diabetes as a condition can’t entirely be reversed, say experts

New Delhi: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the eleventh edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed Diabetes Reversal: ‘Myth or Reality’ with eminent diabetologist Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre. The expert in conversation with Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council and moderator Dr Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control, discussed at length the reality of diabetes reversal and how it can be achieved.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme which promotes healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the veteran speaker highlight on the issue of false claims of diabetes reversals being made by quacks and fake messages to allure vulnerable patients and their families.

Speaking on the fatal results of trusting fake claims, Padma Shri Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre warned that there are certain types of diabetes that cannot be reversed. “Type 1 diabetes affects children largely with zero production of insulin in the body and needs to be treated continuously to be kept alive. One must keep in mind that there is no reversal of Type 1 diabetes, so if any quack tells you that I can reverse Type 1 diabetes, please don’t listen to them. Deaths have occurred when families have gone ahead with alternative medicines to treat Type 1 medicines and the child died. This is a form of murder. When you know that there is no cure and you are still promising a cure and killing a child in the process,” he said.

Sharing the reality of diabetes reversal, he explained that it is only possible with an early diagnosis of diabetes in the pre-complications stage and can take place with continual treatment and diet checks. While a patient at a stage, may be able to make his diabetes condition better through exercising and dieting, once he or she stops, the condition may go back to its previous levels.

“In diabetes, we do not use the term cure, even reversal is not the correct term because once you reverse a situation, it should not resurface, but in diabetes, if patients are not cautious, it can resurface. We can only call it remission. In remission, it hides behind a curtain and if you allow it, it will surface again. People need to understand the difference between reversal and remission,” he said.

Dr. Mohan also shared a few mantras to live by to have a long and healthy life with diabetes. This included detecting diabetes early, keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and lipids under control, observe strict restrictions for first 10 years of diagnosis, exercise regularly with balanced diet and visit doctors 3-4 times in a year.

He further added that being diabetic does not necessarily mean a life cut short, rather, if handled well, patients can live long and healthy with precautions and measures in place.

Commenting on the temporary nature of fad diets which are often recommended for weight loss to diabetics, Shri Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council said, “We must consistently strive to incorporate balanced diets and not go for drastic weight reducing diets as they are not feasible in long run. Consume all your meals in moderation and exercise. One can also opt for special grains’ flour that are available in the market to get a healthy carbohydrate composition. Another good takeaway from the webinar is the issue of choosing healthy cooking oil. As shared by the experts, it is not a question of which oil must be consumed but in how much quantity it is consumed. Same goes for nuts, eat them without worry but only in limited quantities. Moderation is the core mantra of leading a happy and healthy life.”

Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control who moderated the session, placed pertinent questions before Dr. Mohan and directed the webinar in the direction of a information-filled session with key lifestyle takeaways for all the participants.