The stage-wise scientific approach according to international guidelines key to management of Metabolic Diseases- Dr. Jayashree Todakr
PUNE: In an effort to address the increasing burden of metabolic diseases and provide a holistic approach to the treatment, KEM Hospital, Pune today launched a unique Metabolic and Obesity Clinic.
Bariatric Surgeon Dr.Jayashree Todkar who will be heading the clinic said that the main aim behind starting this clinic is to diagnose metabolic diseases at an early stage and treat them with a scientific and holistic approach so as to reduce the risk of future complications.
Our country is witnessing a significant surge in the combination of diabetes and obesity. If not treated early, there is a risk of landing up with serious complications which have a significant impact on quality of life, leave alone the financial burden, she added. A lot of conditions like high blood pressure, heart diseases, kidney and liver diseases, joint problems, infertility, many types of cancers, fatigue, depression etc are linked to obesity and diabetes. These diseases are likely to be significantly more aggressive and progressive than those who are non-obese. To add to this the Pandemic has also fuelled obesity-linked issues amongst all age groups including children, adolescents,s and adults.
Dr. Todkar added, while awareness about various diseases is increasing, people approach the doctors only when they experience some problems, and by the time the disease has already progressed. To add to this, about 80% of patients with metabolic diseases have central obesity, while 60% have overall obesity. Visceral Fat which is the root cause of all these problems is also significantly higher in our country. Therefore the need of the hour is education and awareness. Diagnosing and starting the treatment early and a stage-wise scientific approach according to international guidelines is the key. It is important to make the patient understand that any serious issues like heart ailments, joint problems, or others may be linked to obesity and should be treated hand in hand.
Dr. Todkar said that this requires a dedicated metabolic clinic that will do a proper evaluation, identify the stage, and risk for future complications, and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The team includes nutritionists, physiotherapists, physicians, surgeons, counselors, coordinators, and other experts. The idea is to provide a holistic approach to address the overall metabolic issue rather than treating only individual symptoms like weight, sugar levels, BP, cholesterol, etc. This will help improve the metabolic health of the patients and reduce the risk of future complications and enhance the individual’s overall health and productivity.
