CHENNAI: Loaded with a host of innovative technology- aided systems, Apollo Hospitals has taken the Indian diabetes healthcare market by storm with their integrated diabetes management module, launched here on Wednesday. With an ambitious goal of setting up 100 dedicated sugar clinics across the country within the next 90 days, Apollo has branded them with a diabetic’s most tormenting word — sugar.Three years ago, the decision to provide a disease management healthcare solution for India’s burgeoning diabetes problem was taken, said Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman - Apollo Group of Hospitals, and that is what has culminated in this crusade. “The WHO itself has said that the economic burden that India will accrue because of lifestyle diseases is 270 billion USD,” he added to enforce the point that now was the time to take the fight to the disease directly.It is frightening to note that with India estimated to have 80 million diabetics by 2030, there is no doubt that we will be the diabetes capital of the world. “Even China (which currently has 90 million diabetics) is putting the brakes on it. What are we doing?” he asked.This is where the integrated care system - offered by SUGAR, will make the difference. Patients having access to doctors is just the tip of the iceberg, explained Sangita Reddy, Executive Director - Operations, who has been at the helm of the project in Hyderabad.“There will be a call-centre to continually offer support and issue alerts telephonically.Also, support groups will be organised to aid the emotional progress of the patient,” she added.It has been proven through a pilot study in their centre that this integrated approach, (used among 402 patients) showed a significant reduction in their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. “Research has shown that with every 1 percent drop in HbA1c, the chances of diabetic deaths reduce by 21 percent, while amputation risks go down by 43 percent,” she revealed.The yearly bundle to avail of this “hand-holding” diabetes care will cost a patient `4,500 annually, exclusive of medication and procedures.Currently, there are four centres in Chennai and 12 in existence. “Every 90 days, we are looking to bring some innovative mechanism to curb diabetes,” said Dr Reddy, on future plans.Here’s How the call centre and diabetes mobile app will work:Diabetes monitoring will be a snip with the new system that Apollo launched. On their website, there will be a patient log in section, where every patient will have a dedicated dashboard — this is a real time record of the patient’s sugar level, his history, medication and the upcoming doctor appointments. When a patient takes his reading on a machine, he has to merely record it via the mobile application or send it by SMS and it will get updated within seconds. Not only will the system itself point out large anomalies, the doctors will be notified immediately and they will revert in case of emergencies.The call centre will also facilitate scheduling, checks and reminders along with emergency management tips. In case of emergencies, they will also alert the necessary services immediately. Currently, the call centre is located in Hyderabad, but an expansion is on the cards. Remote Home Monitoring will be achieved through this while video conferencing with doctors will also be available in future. The website is also snappily titled www.sugar24x7.com
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