Speakers:
Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev (Jothydev's Diabetes Center, Trivandrum),
Dr.Unnikrishnan (AMRITA, Kochi),
Dr.Robert Ligthelm(Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Dr.Jothydev spoke on "Type 2 diabetes, State of the Nation"

Around 80 doctors from all over Kerala (Trivandrum to Kasargode) attended.
Panel discussion followed

One selected question and Answer
Qtn: Though HbA1c is vital in management of diabetes what could be the reasons it is not widely utilised?

Ans by Jothydev:
There are multiple reasons as I have pointed out in my lecture as eveidenced by the perception studies. Cost is a major concern and the importance of this test should be explained to the patient. Interpretation is another difficult task. ADA is planning to introduce the term"average sugar" so that the result can be provided as 135 or 170mg% which makes more sense to the patient rather than telling them 6 or 7 %. Another hazard is with the wide variations seen with different laboratories.Standardisation is the solution which alone can help with accurate results for the money spent.