Dr. Gupta believes that maintaining a certain threshold is Hemoglobin A1c (glycated hemoglobin), blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol It can significantly reduce the complications of diabetes.“Aim for HbA1c below 7, blood pressure below 130/80 and LDL cholesterol below 100,” he advises, highlighting the startling fact that only 18% of people achieve this level of control.
But Dr Gupta went beyond these standard guidelines to address the unique needs of Indians: “We know that Indians have a different physiological makeup than Westerners, and this difference is reflected in our exercise recommendations,” he said.
While US guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, Dr Gupta, citing research, recommended a higher target for Indians: “It may take 50-60 minutes of exercise to get the same results as an American doing 30 minutes of exercise.” For optimal management, he recommended aiming for a total of 300 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
The summit also featured information sessions on empowering patients with digital health tools, managing diabetes-related cardiac complications, and promoting physical activity among children and adolescents.
The afternoon session of the Hello Diabetes Academia Summit also showcased “Tandav”, a novel high-intensity dance routine specially designed for adolescent girls. Created by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), the programme aims to promote fitness and health among this age group.
‘Thandav’ was conceived by Dr RM Anjana and Dr Ranjani Harish, senior scientists at MDRF. The name of the programme is an acronym for ‘Teaching Youth High Intensity Interval Training and Dance to Beat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).’ The dance moves have been meticulously crafted with the help of researchers, diabetologists, fitness experts and choreographers, with a strong focus on including women in the development team.
“Our target audience is girls aged 10 to 17, particularly in more conservative rural areas of India,” explains Dr Anjana. “These girls often have limited access to gyms or formal exercise classes outside of their homes. Thandav offers them a fun and accessible way to get the exercise they need.”
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