P. Kesavadev Trust and Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centres organized an international one day annual JPEF (Jothydev’s Professional Education Forum, CME) convention at Residency Towers, Trivandrum on 17th August 2013. A dozen of national and international speakers delivered lectures on various clinically relevant topics. The one day Continuing Medical Education programme which aimed at educating doctors along with the team of dieticians, nurses and diabetes educators saw more than 220 active participants from various parts of Kerala. Prof.Dr.K.V.Krishnadas inaugurated the convention and suggested an opinion on the city of Trivandrum to be known as the diabetes knowledge capital of Kerala. The convention started with the magnificent oration by the Mumbai based internationally renowned Endocrinologist Dr. Shashank.R.Joshi. This oration was in memory of Late Dr.V.C.Mathew Roy who way back in 1971 started the first diabetes clinic in the state of Kerala. Dr. Shashank Joshi emphasised the importance of insulin injections as the oldest safest and strongest medicine in diabetes.

Dr. Shashank Joshi officially launched the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI- the biggest scientific organization for the study of diabetes in India) accredited one year fellowship programme for doctors in diabetology in association with Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre, Trivandrum. The entry will be based on entrance examination and the professionals will be trained in both theory and practice of diabetes.

The seminar discussed various reasons for the currently encountered treatment failure in diabetes which is as high as 75% of those patients on treatment. Fear of the occurrence of low blood sugars was identified as the single most entity which is a barrier to success in diabetes treatment. Regular education and training on glucose monitoring at their own houses and use of modern technological advancements in diabetes will help overcome the current barriers and thereby ultimately reducing the cost of treatment of diabetes as age advances.

Dr. Anjana Mohan from Chennai enumerated the original research which she had carried out on the successful prevention of type 2 diabetes with regular education on change in diet and lifestyles in a group of individuals in Chennai. Though diabetes is a devastating disease which can result in multiple complications and enormous increase in the cost of treatment of these complications, the disease itself is a preventable entity; she said.

Dr. Hemant Thacker, Mumbai discussed the various guidelines on vaccinating all diabetes patients against pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza etc. Dr. Deepak Jumani from Mumbai made a detailed presentation on the importance of treating sexual dysfunction in both men and women with diabetes and the extent to which the sexual impairment can affect the emotional well being of the individual.

Dr. Ranjit Unnikrishnan, Chennai discussed on the social and the clinical relevance while treating type 1 diabetes in children and youngsters. The international speaker from United Kingdom, the Indian born Endocrinologist Dr. Ketan Dhatariya made a detailed presentation on the newer guidelines on the treatment of blood sugar in hospitalized patients. Other speakers included Dr. Chandni (Medical College, Calicut), Dr. George Koshy (Medical College, Trivandrum). Dr. Johnny Kannampilly (Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi) and Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev. Sunitha Jothydev welcomed the gathering and Dr. Arun Shankar moderated the program.