Being overweight or obese significantly increases the chances of developing health-related problems e.g. diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high blood lipids), cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. A number of clinical studies have indicated that central obesity (abdominal obesity) is strongly associated with the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Without appropriate treatment and lifestyle modifications, central obesity can potentially lead to these chronic conditions, resulting in other serious complications and even premature death.
Due to medical advances in diabetic treatments, an injectable medication acts as a key adjuvant to manage body weight and control blood sugar levels, especially when lifestyle changes without using medication for weight reduction does not reveal significant outcomes.
Obesity and Diabetes
According to current statistics, the prevalence of obesity in Thai population aged over 37 is approximately 15.5% (32.4% of men and 9.8% of women). Particularly in Bangkok, the capital city of the country, the highest prevalence of obesity has shown in men while the prevalence of obesity in women remains fairly equal across the country. Due to mounting scientific evidence, obesity is believed to account for 24-52% of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Worldwide, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increasingly risen. Statistic studies have also suggested that the risk of premature mortality from diabetes continues to increase. In Thailand, approximately 5 million Thais have had diabetes. A large number of diabetic patients have further developed serious complications e.g. kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Chronic diseases including diabetes (often referred to noncommunicable diseases or NCDs) usually emerge after long exposure to an unhealthy lifestyle of people who especially live in the urban cities. Unhealthy lifestyle refers to smoking, physical inactivity, consumption of diets rich in highly saturated fat, sugar and salt. If this trend persists, an estimated prevalence of diabetes in Thailand will rise to 9 million in 2040.
Injectable medication to control weight and sugar levels
Medical advancement has brought effective drugs that can be used to control weight and regulate the level of blood sugar levels. An injectable medication aims at achieving weight management goal while improving blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This medication can be prescribed and administered by an expert endocrinologist via subcutaneous injection at different sites e.g. thigh, abdomen and arm. Under close supervision of the specialist, this medication must be used in combination with diet restriction and regular exercise.
Benefits include:
- Reducing blood sugar levels
- Controlling appetite
- Reducing hunger and early satiety
- Continuous weight reduction
- Only few possible side effects
Treatment of obesity and diabetes with multidisciplinary approach
Personalized management of obesity and diabetes provided by multidisciplinary team involving relevant subspecialties is considered novel treatment approach. Patient-centered personalized therapy involves the developing of individual treatment plan that is made based primarily upon previous and current laboratory results as well as clinical manifestations of each patient to achieve the best possible treatment outcomes by predicting their condition progression and prognosis in the future. Individual results can be further used to guide for additional interventions and appropriate treatments to minimize the risk of other complications. This individualized approach also emphasizes on a shared decision-making that takes patient preferences into account in developing a personalized weigh management plan.
Personalized management of obesity and diabetes requires profound expertise and experience of several specialties. Assured by international standard of JCI (Joint Commission International), our services for weight management and diabetic care include:
- Education programs for lifestyle changes and self-management
- Health seminars and medical camping conducted by multidisciplinary team
- Nutritional care programs designed for individual patients by dieticians and nutritionists
- A comprehensive one-stop service for obesity and other related diseases
- A wide variety of medicines used for weight management and blood sugar control, including oral tablets and injections as well as insulin pumps which are small electronic devices that help mimic the way of insulin secretion, replacing the need for frequent insulin injections. A novel drug administered via subcutaneous injection with ease and convenience aids in both obesity management and blood sugar regulation. In addition, this medicine can help minimizing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Digital devices in which laboratory results used to monitor efficacy and safety of treatment are connected to digital gadgets, including:
- Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG): an approach whereby diabetic patients measure their blood sugar levels by themselves using a glycemic reader (glucose meter). Based on the results, they can adjust and monitor their treatments e.g. insulin injection and anti-diabetics drugs, diet and exercise.
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS): Measuring blood sugar level continuously by using the Internet of Medical Things (IoMTs), an amalgamation of medical devices and applications to connect to health care information technology systems, such as blood pressure and weight measurement.
- Electronic Medical Record System (EMR) which is the systematized collection of patient’s information that is electronically stored in a digital format. These records can be simultaneously shared across different health care settings.
- Telemedicine and consultation services for continuous care with ease and convenience via online channels. Services include in-home laboratory test and drug delivery services. Patients can receive their treatments and medications while staying at home without unnecessary travel.
Nevertheless, diet restriction combined with lifestyle modification and regular exercise is the most effective weight loss approach that is widely evidence-based. Injectable medicine acts only as an adjuvant to help control weight and prevent other serious health conditions that might arise and reduce disease severity in the future. Treatment outcomes largely vary among individuals, depending on each patient’s condition, compliance and behavioral intention.
