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DIABETES MELLITUS

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What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes is a condition in which an abnormality in the metabolism results in high glucose level in the blood due to defective insulin production, secretion or utilization.

Classic Symptoms

  1. Increased thirst
  2. Excessive urination
  3. Fatigue
  4. Delayed recovery from infections
  5. Increased hunger
  6. Sudden unexplained weight loss
  7. Delayed healing of wounds

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Featured, Lifestyle, News, Trending

iKure reducing status of anemia by increasing knowledge and healthcare practices

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In India, anemia is identified as a serious health issue where half of the country’s women of reproductive age are anemic. Despite the fact Government of India has implemented several initiatives for eradicating anemia, only 13 per cent improved women cases have been registered as per Global Nutrition Report 2017. Anemia is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation and associated with various maternal morbidities like fatigue and postpartum depression & increased maternal mortality.

Finding the solution to anemia in rural health iKure’s Community health worker’s follows a step-wise approach to improve status of anemia in its catchment areas namely Hubli, Tabageria and Varanasi. With scheduled home/ camp visit as well as in Hub & Spoke clinic, iKure extends care in the following ways:

 Early detection: Early diagnostic is a first step towards the cure. With Low-cost point-of -care devices, iKure provides diagnostic services at the door Step/Camps/Hub/Spoke to ensure high coverage and penetration of its cost effective care to every women and across the remote belt.
 Awareness building: iKure believes that if expectant women knew of the impact of anemia, they would surely not forget to take the supplement. Informing women about the possible side-effects of these supplements, such as black stools and nausea, also helps improve knowledge and understanding. iKure’s health workers with their stronghold in the village community create awareness among the rural population regarding appropriate feeding practices – including exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and optimal complementary feeding during the first 2 years of life which are crucial for avoiding the development of iron deficiency anemia.

 Regular screening and follow up: Most of the health initiative undertaken by the Government provides iron and folic acid supplements but assurance against consumption is not adequate. Regular follow up by the CHWs improve consumption patterns.
 Targeting Vulnerable groups in a strategic way: Women at reproductive age and the children below 5 years are the most vulnerable group of Anemia. iKure target this vulnerable group in a fragmented way by their specific programmes like school health programme; MCH programme and special screening programme through workgroup and self-help group.
 Distribution of Toolkit: iKure develops creative tools to create awareness among the population. These toolkits are delivered when a patient visit iKure’s clinic. It is a handy way to spread the message regarding anemia.

 Conclusion :- Awareness building in appropriate feeding practices reflects in 90% mothers who have started breast
feeding within 1hr of delivery and has positive effect on improved birth weight. 51% child within 0 to 6 month of age and 31% child between 6 to 12 months of age were identified with no development delays minimizing adverse outcome of anemia in pregnant women.

Identifying anemia is vital because anemia can go undetected until it becomes severe. The multi- factorial disorder needs extensive communication campaign and technology to detect and treat anemia. iKure continues to bridge the gap through improved health practices, nutritional counselling and sanitation and hygiene practices.

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Featured

World Alzheimer’s Day

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This Day is observed on the 21st September every year, as a day in the World Alzheimer Month…by organisations and foundations worldwide with this name.

Alzheimer’s disease is a slowly progressing cascade of cognitive decline affecting subjects in the senile age group and is regarded as multifactorial in its origin and with no significant treatment as yet, assuring a reversal or stoppage in the progress of this slow brain cell death…ending up with bodily cessation of functions in course of time.

The hallmark of this disease is dementia and this particular condition is the commonest cause of dementia affecting human kind.

It has an obscure aetiology this far ..speculated to being caused by the abnormal deposition of proteins amidst the brain cells….like Amyloid ..causing plaques and and Tau…which remain entangled with the neurons in the brain.

While the unmodifiable factor(s) could be…age/familial/genetic…modifiable ones could be lifestyle/environmental/smoking/depression-due to any cause/sedentary life in solitude /exposure to cumulative effects of noise /untreated hearing loss etc. Also morbid grief after losing a loved one , financial worries,health anxiety of chronic debilitating illnesses could be a common precipitant of this condition. It is seen to have a gender bias..as to slightly more common in women above 65 years than men of similar age.

Some common pointers towards this affection is the initial presentation of very mild memory loss/cognitive decline…appearing to be normal of this age, but gradually advancing to affect the normal ability of a person, to execute the very basic tasks of day to day lives and failing to recall the names of familiar persons and simple objects of life, accompanied with inappropriate social behavior and lack of mental restraints. With this begins a phase of dependency on others around, to lead a normal daily life and ultimately ending up with immobility and gross paucity of activities towards the terminal phase of this phenomena…of senile dementia.

Since this disease does not kill immediately…a chosen caregiver has an immense role to play in caring for such affected individuals in their twilight years.Empathy and not sympathy is the sheet anchor of an approach to any person affected with Alzheimer’s. In fact..it is always better if a normal personwho is supposed to play the role of a caregiver, to undergo a brief orientation session, as to how to deal with a person affected with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Some important aspects of communicating with persons suffering from this condition may be as below …

  • To speak in simple sentences with them,in a slow pace, stressing more on long term past memories and avoid asking questions which emphasize on short term memory.
  • On seeking for preferences….as to wishing to have egg/fish for lunch..it is better to show them the objects ,for a better clarity in the question and response.
  • The speaker must remain aware of his/her own’s body language or mannerism while talking to the affected one…focusing on direct eye contact and in the absence of any sensory distraction.
  • Demonstrate ample amount of patience while communicating with a dementic person…till the patient is able to comprehend the topic on which spoken to.
  • Never ever comment on the mental /intelligent set back on the faculties of an affected person in front of the communicator.
  • Be aware of the limitations of the affected person….on memory loss/difficulty in handling complex tasks/problems in planning and organizing their personal lives/difficulty in coordination and locomotion etc. etc.Preventive aspects on this condition are many ….which includes leading a simple lifestyle….avoid being affected by extremes of emotions…regular touch with friends and relatives….cutting down on caffeine intake to increase the sleeping hours,following a simple rule to keep the cognition active…by doing simple calculations mentally-trying to recall all those whom the person had met earlier in life-trying to place the names of persons by visuals (pictures/photos)-and spiritual recourse at convenient timings in day to day lives.

Researches are on for a definitive management strategy of this disease but the results are yet to come forth in a big way.

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Video

Covid-19 and the adaptation by iKure in the service offerings, during the pandemic- a synopsis

Covid-19 has churned out the whole human civilization into an abyss of indefinite uncertainty with the appalling incidents and consequences, including an unacceptable record of deaths and sufferings worldwide, which has thrown mankind out of gear and the uphill struggle for a safe survival continues.

Coupled with this disease menace, is the scenario of economic gloom arising out of job layouts, downsizing of companies, lack of new job prospects etc. which is bringing in an enormous amount of despondency and negative affections of mind and body, unheard of this kind earlier.

iKure being a population healthcare service provider enabled by Technology and Research oriented objectives, has made an attempt to be a forerunner in the sector of healthcare in rendering its services, during such difficult times, to all stake holders in more than one novel ways backed by the skills and expertise of our employees from all walks of training and experience towards our declared mission of ensuring “Zero Mortality” through primary healthcare and beyond.

Ways in which iKure stood out to adapt to the current unprecedented crisis

  • Based on the three prongs of prevention i.e., social (physical) distancing/usage of barrier tools like masks & hand sanitizers to say the minimum, iKure has embarked on a path of remote consultation for patients through the new concept of Telemedicine which has enabled a large no. of clients/patients to seek medical attention from the safe confines of their homes and the Physicians feeling safe at their point of presence.
  • In the events of some subjects/patients approaching our hubs/clinics, the safety measures have been strictly put in place, (with PPE-s etc.) to ensure safety of all concerned and a smooth play of operations to continue as earlier within the norms of recommended prevention guidelines.
  • Special measures have been put in place to render door step services

(Albeit with mutual protection of subjects & staff) to deliver medicinal items/ related consumables and any other medical attention/advice that may need at any point of time…through our field workers (CHW-s).

POC Tools/Devices have been made available to community members through our staff and CHW-s, for a directed approach to Covid-19, up the ladder of scientific strategy to address it.

During the peak healthcare crisis ’Oxygen Concentrator’s were arranged for desperate and needy patients who otherwise would have succumbed to the disease! Anecdotal incidents of providing expert opinion and guidance to few critical subjects infected with the virus helped them pull out of crisis and survive albeit with few sad mortalities though.

  • Our Doctors have been attuned to the call of the times, to be sensitive towards our patients, at the same time being on guard to detect suspicious infected cases and do the needful as per the advised protocol of the health authorities…imparting relevant health education to the subjects in attendance.

Novel projects undertaken biKure

Screening the blue-collar workers (in the realty & real estate industry sector) for Covid-19, by means of well decided clinical vital parameters at site and follow the recommended protocols of suspicion of the infection in any of the persons screened. Our ground staff have physically attended such events with due precautions, almost on a daily basis, during the peak crisis period and provided a social service in a proactive approach to healthcare…under the supervision of Medical Professional(s).

  • A first ever Bio-Bubble Project mission at a Cricket Tournament in another state, handling reputed players and their associates through laid down Covid-19 safety protocols, enabled by frequent testing and screenings within the framework of a seamless harnessing of technology and trained manpower and means to trouble shoot the breaches, if any, during the whole session. The venture was hugely successful and widely commended by the organizers, athletic personalities and public forum.
  • During the second wave of the pandemic Remote Monitoring of Covid-19 +ve subjects was undertaken by daily monitoring calls and enquiries and periodical virtual consultations with Doctors/Monitoring team members to help tide over the critical fortnight period. Few were guided for Hospital admissions depending on their physical conditions.
  • Attempts were also made to secure small isolation spaces for those with mild affection of the disease, supported with oxygen and gadgets for a closer monitoring.
  • A glaring example of a PPP (PublicPrivatePartnership) may be cited by mentioning the launch of a Telemedicine collaboration with the Govt of Nagaland, (Naga Telehealth) in joint efforts with another prominent Indian association, to serve the community of Nagaland, which is a hilly terrain basically, in seeking medical attention from Doctors at Govt Health Centers there by means of remote consultations on general and specific health issues, centering the pandemic and beyond.
  • To boost the morale of our staff, iKure had arranged a whole remote session with a ‘clinical psychologist’, to address the common feelings of our employees during this pandemic season, where ‘work from home’ has been the norm, so that along with their psyche the productivity does not sag and they can adapt themselves to cope up with any such mental issues in their stride.

It is because of such concerted and consolidated approach to serving humanity during such unprecedented times with mounting challenges, guided by mentors and domain experts in our team, with unflinching dedication and sincerity and confidence, the World Economic Forum has offered iKure a coveted space in the top 50 listing of organizations, which displayed exemplary activity in such crisis times.

It is an honor bestowed upon us, serving as an impetus to move on with our mission with more dedication and objectivity.

 

   Efforts ongoing

 

  • iKure wishes to plan with foresight, ventures involving our service offerings in other states and may be beyond Indian shores based on the success of our initiatives this far.
  • Webinar has been arranged by our staff to keep public enlightened on the nuances of “Post-acute / Long Covid Syndrome “seen to affect a section of those suffered this illness…with opinions and recommendations from domain experts/Doctors in the virtual seminar.
  • Work in the Non-communicable Disease area (NCD) which is the need of the hour in this country, keeping the Covid-19 affection in mind, is being planned in a refined manner, since this particular virus affects the CVS in a major way, along with other co-morbidities, as surfacing from those who contracted the disease and those who recovered from the illness!
  • Some critical research areas are also been looked into, which engages the data acquired in re-guiding us through AI and/or ML mechanisms, on few members of NCD-s as the scope may be obtained such as Diabetes/Hypertension etc.
  • Stake holder partnerships are being explored by our business associates for more and more Govt/Pvt. Collaborations and grant providers, based on our track record of success and innumerable accolades that the organization has achieved by dint of merit amidst tough competitions.

Since the pandemic is far from over yet we do not know what is in store for mankind once the virus leaves civilization. The challenges  are indeed in the realm of the unknown.

Whether we have really achieved herd immunity. Whether we have managed to eradicate the virus for good. What are the residual signs/symptoms of those who have been affected by the Virus? Are only issues that time will tell and help us unfold but till then, iKure shall continue with its offerings in healthcare in all possible ways both traditional and innovative in nature to mitigate the health issues in the post-pandemic era that’s for sure.

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Featured, Video

“The six data collaborations chosen for our new peer learning network” – blog published by ODI

“The six data collaborations chosen for our new peer learning network” – blog published by ODI

Click on the link to read more: 

https://theodi.org/article/the-six-data-collaborations-chosen-for-our-new-peer-learning-network/

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Lifestyle, Sport

World Heart Day

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This Day is observed on 29th September every year, to commemorate the great role this organ plays in the human system.

On this day …we must make a pledge to create and sustain a heart-healthy environment, by adopting healthy choices in our day to day lives,supplemented with a basic knowledge profile,in order to live longer with a happily beating heart, free from disease but loaded with a zest for life !

The Global Scenario…….more than 17.3 million deaths occur every year from cardio-vascular diseases. Acute Coronary Syndromes(ACS)….the lead members being Acute MI and Unstable Angina…cause a vast No. of unprepared and sudden strikes….with high morbidity and mortality..in spite of getting the best state of the art treatment facilities today…which are largely preventable !

The recent trends in the cardio-vascular morbidity profile are Coronary Artery Disease ( Ischaemic Heart Disease) and complications of Diabetes/Hypertension causing Heart Failure and ultimate gloomy prognosis..physically and financially.

With the above frightful picture in the backdrop, one should follow a guided lifestyle to keep the cardiovascular diseases at bay. ..in spite of a few latest diagnostic modalities and medicines arriving in the scene, to address some of these complicated issues.

Some of the commonly recommended day to day practices/ knowledge based activities could be…

  • Avoid sedentary hours ..by ensuring mobility in the form of 30 mins. of brisk walks a day or engaging in some kind of free hand exercises,to keep the heart pumping healthily. At office..getting up a frequent no. of times from long sitting sessions and standing, ensures non-sedentary attitude of oneself.
  • STOP smoking and drinking alcohol…in totality. Damage done by smoking cannot be undone but further damage can be prevented. Maintain a steady body weight appropriate to your age and body frame.
  • Rule out Diabetes/Hypertension/Dyslipidaemia by regular blood checks and consulting a physician at a certain periodicity.The idea is to know one’s numbers on these parameters and keep a track of your progress.
  • Staying away from excess consumption of the THREE white dietary scourges….salt/sugar/white flour.
  • Relying on more of vegetable produce and to cut down on organ meat like red meat and meat of bigger animals. If Non-veg fare is the preferred one…then to insist on fish/lean meat (Chicken-minus the skin)/fewer no. of eggs/skimmed milk etc.
  • Never to skip any medication advised by Doctors and to know the warning signs of immediately seeking medical care at a Hospital,if need be.
  • Women after their menopause are more prone to Heart Attacks than men of similar age because of the sudden withdrawl of the ‘oestrogen’ protection that they have been enjoying throughout their reproductive years !
  • People suffering from Diabetes are very prone to have SILENT Heart Attacks (without the typical chest pain) thereby posing more danger in the delay of recognition of the impending emergency and crisis and hence an uncertain morbidity and case fatality.
  • One should be aware of the usual/common symptoms of an impending/onsetting Heart Attack ( Acute MI) ..such as the ubiquitous Chest Pain-not subsiding with usual medication for coronary artery dilatation and /Difficulty in breathing/unusual sweating with/without discomfort/referred pain to left upper arm and left jaw/upper back,upper abdomen/ etc. and to seek medical help instantaneously.
  • Never to ignore any/all of the above symptoms as attacks of Acidity..!!!
  • A proactive and preventive Health Check to rule out any of the heart affections, is a perquisite to a healthy and disease free life for oneself and the family members.
  • Pregnancy needs to be properly followed up at Anti-natal care to exclude cases of “Pregnancy induced Hypertension” (PIH) and its complications.

Wishing all a heart healthy Life today and beyond………

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