Endocrinologist Dr Sunil Kumar Kota from Diabetes and Endocare Clinic, Brahmapur, delivered a lecture at a State-level conference organised by the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) at Hyderabad on Sunday. Dr Kota was the only speaker from Odisha to be invited to this annual conference.
He delivered a guest lecture on usage of pioglitazone for treatment of type 2 diabetes. He stated that pioglitazone improves insulin sensitivity at various tissue levels including liver, muscle, fat cells leading to reduction of blood sugars. It also acts on blood vessels to reduce lipids and improve cardiovascular health by preventing atherosclerosis. In several clinical studies, pioglitazone is shown to prevent progression into diabetes to the tune of 40-60 per cent, he added.
Dr Sunil told the audience that this drug should not be used in patients with heart or kidney or liver failure, bladder cancer, history of bladder cancer or any symptoms of blood in urine, urgency in urine or unexplained lower abdomen. It is a cheap and effective drug even in elderly diabetics and ladies with polycystic ovarian syndrome presenting with irregular menses and increase in hair growth.
It has some side effects like weight gain, fluid retention, increased respiratory infections and fractures, which have to be monitored frequently, he added. The meeting was chaired by RSSDI national president Dr SV Madhu and RSSDI’s AP and Telangana chapter president Dr RK Sahay. It was attended by 500 doctors from AP and Telangana besides other places.