Dr Navneet Agrawal, Chief Clinical Officer, BeatO highlights that the healthcare infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the growing demand for diabetic care. Access to specialised medical professionals, diagnostic facilities, and affordable treatment options remains inadequate, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. In light of this scenario, doctors and medical practitioners are often burdened with hurdles
Waking up to the adversaries of blood sugar spikes, the ever-evolving treatment guidelines, and the unforeseen complications of diabetes has cast a dark shadow on patients worldwide. However, as patients grapple with these adversities, doctors aren’t immune to the challenges of treating and managing a disease as demanding as diabetes.
India, with an overall weighted diabetic prevalence of 11.4 per cent, has claimed the notorious tag of being the ‘diabetes capital of the world’. Despite this gradual rise in diabetes, there is an evident scarcity of adequate care across cities in India, raising an alarming concern for public health. The healthcare infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the growing demand for diabetic care. Access to specialised medical professionals, diagnostic facilities, and affordable treatment options remains inadequate, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. In light of this scenario, doctors and medical practitioners are often burdened with hurdles.
Akin to other sectors, even healthcare is riddled with a digital revolution. With access to smartphones and the internet having percolated down to the grassroots, the abundance of information becomes the principal hurdle doctors have to combat. Patients turn to search engines like Google to seek information about diabetes, its symptoms, and treatment options, and AI turns this abundance of data into a landscape of pervasive misinformation.
The internet’s lack of regulation and oversight allows for the distribution of inaccurate and misleading information. Patients may encounter unverified claims, alternative remedies, or anecdotal experiences that can significantly impact their understanding of diabetes and its management. To elucidate, take, for instance, a man recently diagnosed with diabetes who is prescribed metformin as a part of the treatment. Turning to the internet, he stumbles upon various sites claiming a purported link between metformin and cancer. Doctors often deal with patients who encounter conflicting and potentially misleading information about diabetes.
The presence of misinformation has adverse effects on both doctors and patients. Doctors often find themselves addressing misconceptions that patients bring to their appointments. Correcting these misunderstandings requires effective communication skills to ensure patients understand the accurate information without undermining their trust. However, this process can be challenging, especially considering the limited time available for consultations in India’s healthcare system.
Staying informed and updated is crucial for doctors in India, given the dynamic nature of diabetes research and treatment. Medical knowledge and guidelines continuously evolve, necessitating doctors to keep themselves updated. However, distinguishing reliable sources from misinformation is challenging, given the vast amount of information available on the internet.
Doctors in India must tackle this by relying on trusted medical journals, conferences, and professional networks to ensure they provide their patients with the most current and evidence-based care. Collaborating with colleagues and participating in continuing medical education programs can help them navigate the sea of information and stay abreast of the latest advancements in diabetes management.
It is time, however, as the curtain falls on our exploration of the day-to-day challenges doctors face in treating diabetes, we must acknowledge the relentless dedication and unyielding spirit with which they navigate this intricate landscape. Along with being mindful of the adversities that affect patients, it is time that we also give due credit to doctors and medical practitioners, our unsung heroes, who aid us in fighting the dark spells of diabetes, leaving a lasting impact on all the lives they touch.