Correspondence Address:
Dr. D N Patil
Department of Integrative Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar - 563 101, Karnataka
India

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Integrating different therapies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine is the basis of Integrative Medicine. It aims to use the best of these therapies to meet each patient's need (personalized medicine). Scientific literature supports that multidisciplinary, cost-effective, holistic healthcare is need of the hour. Integrative healthcare module addresses the complex interplay between biological, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Many patients are self-integrating several systems of medicines and therapies to cope up for their chronic illness/lifestyle diseases even though there is lack of evidence.

To explore the concept of integrative medicines, Department of Integrative Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, Karnataka, initiated SAMANVAYA: National Conference on CAM in 2013 in association with the Department of Community Medicine. SAMANVAYA-2018: A National Conference on Integrative Diabetology – Present Trends in Diabetes Care (SAMANVAYA 2018) was organized in association with the Department of General Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College (SDUMC), on June 29, 2018, at SDUAHER. The participants were from medical, paramedical, AYUSH professionals, students and enthusiasts took part in the conference. This conference provided a unique opportunity to explore the Integrative Diabetology and update the present trends in diabetic management.

SAMANVAYA-2018 was inaugurated in the august presence of Dr. S. Kumar, Chancellor, Dr. C. V. Raghuveer, Vice-Chancellor, SDUAHER, Kolar, and Chief Guest Dr. Srikanta, Medical Director of Samatvam Diabetes Endocrinology Centre, Bengaluru, along with Guest of Honor Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi, and other distinguished dignitaries by lightening of the lamp. Dr. K. Prabhakar, Professor and Head, Department of General Medicine, SDUMC, welcomed the gathering and Dr. N. J. Patil briefed the report on various activities conducted by the University to celebrate the International Day of Yoga-2018.

During the inaugural session, chief guest Dr. Srikanta, in his key note address “yena sarvam idaṃ tatam (by which all this is pervaded): An endocrinologist's perspective of Science, Medicine, Immortality and God” emphasized that there is a definite need to incorporate the spiritual and religious dimension in the management of diabetes. His talk took the audience through the intricacies of pathophysiology, leading to impaired glucose tolerance, and he provided research updates on integrative diabetology. He said that by addressing the spiritual and religious dimensions in patient care, clinicians can be truly holistic and brings patient well-being to the forefront which would increase the therapeutic impact of interventions in diabetes. To optimally support patients for self-management, there is a need to identify all possible motivation and coping strategies to improve patient compliance.

Dr. N. Srikanth, Deputy Director General, CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi, emphasized the need of research for integration and provided glimpse of different schemes/policies of AYUSH Ministry and CCRAS funding. Dr. N. Kishore Kumar, Research Officer, NADRI, CCRAS, Bangalore, in his talk gave brief introduction on the different research projects and how the integration will be the need of the hour.

Dr. N. J. Patil, Head of the Department of Integrative Medicine, briefed “Transdisciplinary Research and Integrative Medicine Translating Research Evidence into Practice.” He emphasized that holistic medicine and treating person as whole will be the primary goal of the integration.

Dr. Anand Balayogi, Director, CYTER, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, MGMC and RI, Pillayarkuppam, Pondicherry, spoke on “Understanding the role of Yoga in preventing and managing diabetes” and gave an outline on how yoga can be effective in diabetes. These included measures to control obesity, measures to control cholesterol, and measures to improve beta-cell function.

Dr. Ravishankar Pervaje, Medical Director, Sushrutha Ayurveda Hospital, Puttur, Dakshina, Kannada, briefed the topic “Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes by Ayurveda.” He narrated the concept of pathophysiology of diabetes in Ayurvedic perspective and concept of āvaraṇa in the manifestation of prameha (diabetes). He shared few interesting diabetes cases in his clinical presentation, which showed a new ray hope in the management of diabetes.

Postlunch session was started with the talk by Dr. Krishna Prasanthi, Senior Consultant Physician, Harshitha Hospital, Tirupati, Vice-Chairperson Association of Physicians of India, Andhra Pradesh state, on “Lifestyle modifications for women – Hope for diabetes free India - Myth or reality?” She stressed the rising prevalence of diabetes in younger women of child-bearing age and the need to implement various health screening programs to identify and treating diabetes in them.

Dr. K. Prabhakar, Head of the Department of General Medicine, in his talk on “Holistic approach in the management of Diabetes” emphasized the need for dietary modification, physical exercise, and proper sleeping habits. He said that in contrast to medications, which typically address only one risk factor, lifestyle modification simultaneously addresses obesity, glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipid abnormalities. He thought that a variety of eating patterns are acceptable for the management of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes including Mediterranean, DASH, and plant-based diets. He reinforced recommendations for physical activity that most adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes need 150+ min/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity over at least 3 days/week with no more than 2 consecutive days without exercise.

Dr. Ananta Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SDUMC, talked on “Role of Yoga in Public Health” emphasized on need of development of different schemes and policies for the public and through research evidences awareness programs should be started.

The afternoon session concluded with a panel discussion led by Dr. Lakshmaih, Medical Superintendent, RLJH&RC, Dr. Nitin Patil, Head of the Department of Integrative Medicine, Dr. K. Prabhakar and Dr. Raveesha, Professor, Department of General Medicine, and other experts who discussed on the role of AYUSH in Integrative Diabetology and emphasized on the scope of research in this merging Field. Outcome will help in preventing diabetes and effective management of diabetes and its complications. Dr. Phaneesh Bhardwaja presented vote of thanks and the conference was ended with National Anthem.

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