Why Diabetes Needs Early Diagnosis and Prevention

The live phone-in programme “Hello Doctor” by the Diabetes Care Foundation of India featured expert guidance from Dr. Sunil Gupta and Dr. Shlok Gupta on diabetes awareness, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. During the discussion, Dr. Sunil Gupta highlighted the alarming rise of diabetes and prediabetes in India. Referring to recent health data, he explained that nearly every fourth adult above 18 years of age is affected by either diabetes or prediabetes. He emphasized that many people remain undiagnosed for years because diabetes often develops without noticeable symptoms. The experts stressed the importance of regular health check-ups, especially after the age of 35, or earlier in people with a family history of diabetes. They explained the role of HbA1c testing, fasting blood sugar, and oral glucose tolerance tests in diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes. Dr. Gupta also discussed how obesity, genetics, sedentary lifestyle, and poor eating habits increase diabetes risk. He warned against self-medication and explained that diabetes treatment must be individualized based on factors such as body weight, insulin production, and insulin resistance. Dr. Shlok Gupta explained that very high blood sugar levels can temporarily exhaust insulin-producing beta cells. In such cases, short-term insulin therapy may help the pancreas recover before shifting patients back to oral medicines. The programme also highlighted modern diabetes technologies such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems and insulin pumps, which help patients monitor and control blood sugar more effectively. Expert- Dr Sunil Gupta & Dr Shlok Gupta Anchor- Purva Kulkarni Podcast: 24/04/2026 Recorded at: Akashwani Nagpur