Clinical research needed for more effective diabetes treatment: ISCR

The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR), an association of clinical research professionals that aims to build awareness of clinical research, has stated that more clinical research is needed for effective diabetes treatment in the country. “India stands at a very dangerous crossroad in its struggle to combat diabetes. While prevention is always the best approach to tackle the illness, we are now facing a scenario where the number of new cases of diabetes continues to grow at an alarming rate. With not enough clinical research being one, the search for better treatments to contain the growing epidemic, continues to be a challenging one,” says Suneela Thatte, president, ISCR. India has more diabetics than any other country in the world, according to the International Diabetes Foundation. The disease affects more than 62 million Indians, which is more than 7.1% of India's adult population. The level of morbidity and mortality due to diabetes and its potential complications are enormous, and pose a significant healthcare burden on families and society. An estimate shows that nearly one million Indians die due to diabetes every year. The high incidence is attributed to a combination of genetic susceptibility plus adoption of a high-calorie, low-activity lifestyle by India's growing middle class. Diabetes is now being shown to be associated with a spectrum of complications and to be occurring at a relatively younger age. In India, the steady migration of people from rural to urban areas, the economic boom, and corresponding change in lifestyle, are all affecting the onset of diabetes. There are an estimated 85 million people in India who are suffering from pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which patients have high blood glucose level but are not in the diabetes range. They are at high risk of getting diabetes. “Diabetes is an illness that has a lot of associated complications. While prevention is the best route, we need better and more effective treatment for diabetes and its complications. Clinical research plays an invaluable role in the quest for newer and better medicines and it is important that the current regulatory impediment to doing clinical research in India is addressed at the earliest,” says Dr Vyankatesh Shivane, Consultant Diabetologist and Metabolic Physician, and Joint Director Research Health Institute in Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mumbai.  “It is unfortunate that despite us having the world’s largest population of diabetics, our access to the latest treatment is stymied.” Source:Pharmabiz