In yet another academic feast, a line of distinguished and respectful faculty across India delivered thought provoking lectures on the advances, flaws and barriers in day to day diabetes management at the Taj Gateway Hotel, Kochi on 5th October and Hotel Trident, Kochi on 6th October 2013 at the 2 day JPEF (Jothydev's Professional Education Forum) Diabetes Summit Kochi 2013.

At the opening session, Dr.Neeta Deshpande (Diabetologist, Belgaum Diabetes Center) lectured on ‘T2DM in Indians: how is it different? ‘ emphasizing on the phenotype and genetic factors which make Indians more prone for diabetes. Dr.Seenaj Chandran (Chief Diabetologist KIMS Hospital, Kochi) chaired the session. Dr.P.Manokar (Associate Professor, Dept of Cardiology, Sree Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai) made a magnificent lecture grazing through the basics of BP measurement, targets in CKD, CVD and the benefits of ambulatory BP measurement in his lecture ‘Hypertension in diabetes: recent updates’.

Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev chaired the session. In an enlightening session Dr.Sanjiv Shah(Senior Consultant Endocrinologist, Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai) spoke on’ Glucose to Patient centric approach: Implementing this shift in practice’ elaborating all the guidelines in diabetes management and the need for individualizing therapy in daily diabetes practice. Dr.V.Balachandran(Chief Physician, Nair's Hospital, Kollam) chaired the session. The much discussed topic ‘CV attributes and outcome trials of DPP4 inhibitors’ was taken up by Dr.V.Balachandran where he discussed the recent cardiovascular outcome trials including SAVOR TIMI and the controversies hovering gliptins. Dr.Johnny Kannampilly(Consultant Diabetologist, Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi) chaired the session. Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev made a lucid lecture on ‘From insulins to inhibitors: the science and success of glucose regulation’ taking the delegates through the struggle of insulin discovery to the latest SGLT2 inhibitors and newer drugs in pipeline for diabetes treatment.

The second day session commenced with the deliberation on ’ Declining renal function and hyperglycemia management’ by Dr.Georgie Abraham(Prof. Medicine and Cons. Nephrologist, Madras Medical Mission Hospital). The session gave insights into the parameters to be taken into consideration apart from Creatinine for treatment of CKD including glomerular flitration rate, bicarbonate supplementation etc. Dr. Mohan Varughese (Senior Diabetologist, Thiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital, Thiruvalla ) chaired the session. ‘Translating evidence to practice - Data interpretation in diabetes trials’ by Dr. S Venkataraman(Senior Consultant in Diabetology, Appolo Hospital and Soorya, Chennai) discussed the landmark trials of DCCT, EDIC, UKPDS, ADVANCE , the ‘bad memory effect’ and the current consensus on the targets recommended for diabetes patients with complications. Dr. Georgi Abraham chaired the session.

'Better Starter Insulin in Indians: Basal or Low-Mixtures or Mid-Mixtures’ was delt by Dr. Arthur J Asirvatham (HOD & Prof. Diabetologist, Madurai Medical College Hospital). In an elegant presentation, he explained the importance of treating FBS, Post prandial glucose excursions with the varied premix combination of insulin available in market. Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev chaired the session. ‘Overcoming initiation barrier: Role of Insulin Delivery Devices’ had Dr.Johnny Kannampilly emphasizing on the use of CGM in detecting hypoglycemia, glycemic variability etc. Dr.Venkataraman chaired the session. ‘Lipid management in diabetes: Current Consensus’ had Dr. Arun Shankar (Consultant Diabetologist, Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre, Trivandrum) lecturing on the current guidelines in dyslipdemia management and evaluation of landmark trials like CARDS, FIELD, JUPITER Trials etc.Dr Joison Abraham (Diabetologist, Lourde Hospital) chaired the session.

Ms. Sunitha Jothydev delivered vote of thanks. Gopika Krishnan, Vinu Krishnan and Hari Prasad coordinated the CME activities. The theme of JPEF CME is ‘Diabetes- let’s learn together to save lives.’