Before we cut to the chase, let’s begin with an understanding on what a chronic condition is, and the dynamics involved in it.

Starting with the basics, we need to remember that diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart problems, kidney dysfunction/failure, PCOS/hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, chronic respiratory problems such as Asthma and COPD, and arthritis…

…are all chronic conditions that “can be effectively managed”, brought under control and sustained for a lifetime, “but cannot be cured” as they are not a disease, but a collection of symptoms.

The dynamics involved in handling chronic conditions have been brought under three therapeutic interventions—diet/nutrition, exercise/physical activity, & lifestyle modifications (drinking enough water, sleeping undisturbed for 7-9 hours, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol)—and personalized to suit the unique needs of each affected individual.

Furthermore, there is no single management framework common to all conditions—each chronic condition is mutually exclusive from the rest and has its own specific interventional approaches to surpass unique challenges.

Now let’s dive right in!

Diabetes Remission:

It begins with knowing the person’s age, gender, occupation, geography, HbA1c %, Fasting & Post Prandial Blood Sugar levels in mg/dL, and when that person was diagnosed with diabetes.

Once the person has decided to use a CGM—Continuous Glucose Monitoring—device, or a glucometer, that person’s existing glucose behaviour is observed for the first seven days. On the 8^th day, a Precision Care Plan is given.

The PCP must be strictly adhered to from Day 8 to Day 14 to get your blood sugar pattens and behaviours streamlined, and even after you are off the CGM after 14 days, a periodic glucometer check will show you that your sugar are under control if you stick to the PCP consistently.

Just by following the right diet/nutrition, exercise/physical activity and lifestyle modifications:

• Your HbA1c and blood sugars will move into the normal range
• You will pass the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
• Any diabetes-related complications will drastically reduce
• Any co-conditions, such as hypertension or weight gain, will be brought into the normal range.
• You will witness a remarkable improvement in your health and start feeling more energetic, happy, and productive

You are said to have achieved “diabetes remission” if your HbA1c and blood sugar levels that have been brought to within normal range continue to remain so for the next 90 successive days.

Effective management of diabetes not only restores you to good health but also enhances your overall “QoL”, or quality of life!

Weight Management: 

It begins with assessing if you really have weight problems—i.e. a BMI greater than 24.9 kg/m²—or a lipid profile with critically skewed values.

You’d require a CGM if your weight problems entail prediabetes or diabetes, and a PCP to which you must consistently adhere, to put your health back on track.

Interventions include personalized precision diet, exercise, sufficient water intake, 7-9 hours of undisturbed quality sleep, and effective management of stress, all of which work towards bringing you weight—and blood sugars if prediabetic or diabetic—to within the normal range.

Your WM program can be deemed a success if your weight, BMI, and lipid profile parameters—such as Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL, and HDL—have entered the normal range and sustained without slipping back into abnormal values.

Hypertension Management:

It begins with assessing if your blood pressure is in the hypertensive range, and in what Stage/Grade the condition is in.

Interventions include a low-salt, low-fat diet, sufficient water intake, 7-9 hours of undisturbed quality sleep, and effective management of stress, all of which work towards bringing you blood pressure to within the normal range.

Your Hypertension Management program can be deemed a success if your blood pressure has entered the normal range and sustained without slipping back into abnormal values.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management:

Early stages of CKD generally do not give out any symptoms, and hence in cases diagnosed with Stage 4 or 5 CKD, the only objective of a management program will be that of effectively delaying progression of the condition and reducing associated complications.

It begins with assessing your kidney function in terms of its filtration rate “eGFR”, and concentration of albuminuria, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in your blood.

You’d require a CGM if your CKD entail prediabetes or diabetes, and a PCP to which you must consistently adhere, to put your health back on track.

Interventions include a low salt/sodium diet, medication management, fluid restriction, 7-9 hours of undisturbed quality sleep, and effective management of stress, all of which work towards improving kidney function.

Your CKD Management program can be deemed a success if your condition has been sustained, medications have been effectively managed, and albuminuria, creatinine, and BUN levels have entered the normal range.

The Bottom Line…

Whatever be the condition, your adherence to personalized precision care guidelines and taking the right dosage of medicine at the scheduled time is of critical importance to successful management of the chronic condition.

But worry not! Credo Health is always there to shoulder the burden of your chronic condition, provide timely advise, recommendations, and best alternatives, and motivate and encourage you to achieve your health goals, and enjoy not just the best of health but also improved overall quality of life!