Background and Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. Evidence from India on cognitive impairment in this population remains limited; hence, this study assessed cognitive impairment using the Mini-Cog screening tool among older adults with T2DM. Materials and Methods: A total of 204 participants aged ≥60 years with T2DM were enrolled at a tertiary care centre in Chennai from February to May 2024. Cognitive status was screened using the Mini-Cog tool. ‘Scores of 0–2’ indicated a positive screen for cognitive impairment, whereas ‘scores of 3–5’ indicated a negative screen for cognitive impairment. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical information was collected. Results: Among the 204 older adults with T2DM screened using the Mini-Cog, 20.6% screened positive for cognitive impairment. Among those who screened positive, the proportion of women was significantly higher than that of men (61.9% vs. 38.1%, P = .04). The mean BMI was significantly higher among women than men (28.7 ± 5.3 vs. 26.7 ± 3.9 kg/m², P = .003). The combined presence of hypertension and dyslipidemia was significantly higher among screened positive participants compared to screened negative participants (61.9% vs. 38.3%, P = .005). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that HbA1c > 9% (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.01–4.98); P = .04] and the presence of hypertension and dyslipidemia [OR 2.4 (95% CI 1.09–4.13); P = .02] were significantly associated with those who screened positive for cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted that a significant proportion of women with T2DM screened positive for cognitive impairment as assessed by the Mini-Cog tool. Poor glycemic control and the presence of comorbid conditions such as hypertension and dyslipidemia were independently associated with those who screened positive for cognitive impairment.
Background: Individuals with diabetes are at heightened risk of low vitamin D status, yet data describing the extent of this problem and its contributing factors in Uganda are scarce. This study estimated the burden of vitamin D deficiency and identified factors linked to its occurrence among adult diabetic patients receiving care at a hospital in Central Uganda. Methodology: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 196 adult diabetic patients attending care at a hospital in Central Uganda were enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires captured each participant’s socio-demographic profile, clinical background, and lifestyle habits. Body weight, height, and waist circumference were measured with calibrated equipment following standardized anthropometric procedures. Venous blood samples were drawn to determine serum vitamin D concentration. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were applied to identify factors linked to vitamin D deficiency, with a two-sided P < .05 taken as statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 37.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.7%–44.3%). On multivariable analysis controlling for potential confounders, sleeping fewer than 5 hours nightly (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.92; 95% CI: 1.56–15.45; P = .006), sleeping 5–7 hours (aOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.06–6.73; P = .038), alcohol use (aOR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.29–6.15; P = .009), and diabetic retinopathy (aOR = 5.25; 95% CI: 1.03–26.71; P = .046) each showed a significant association with vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent, affecting more than a third of the diabetic patients studied. Short sleep duration, alcohol use, and diabetic retinopathy each showed an independent association with vitamin D deficiency.
This perspective examines the convergence of yoga and Ayurveda, traditional Indian health systems rooted in Vedic philosophy, with modern evidence-based medicine. Rather than assuming direct equivalence, this article critically evaluates areas of conceptual overlap alongside interventions supported by emerging clinical evidence. By tracing their evolution from the Vedas and Upanishads to Sage Patanjali’s classical yoga system, the discussion contextualizes these traditions within contemporary healthcare frameworks. The multidimensional approach of Vedic medicine, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, has conceptual parallels with preventive and individualized care models in modern medicine, although these parallels are not always empirically validated. The Ayurvedic principles of Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and Prakriti (inherent constitution) are presented as traditional explanatory frameworks for understanding health and disease, guiding diagnosis, and tailored therapeutic interventions within Ayurvedic practice. Practices such as Panchakarma, dietary adjustments, and mind–body interventions such as yoga and meditation are widely used in traditional settings; however, the strength of clinical evidence supporting these approaches varies across domains. Emerging clinical perspectives most consistently support yoga-based interventions in managing chronic diseases, enhancing psychological well-being, and promoting preventive healthcare. For instance, yoga’s role in improving exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and mental health parameters, as well as its benefits in glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in prediabetic individuals, is well-documented. Furthermore, practices such as pranayama (breath control) and dhyana (meditation) have shown promising but heterogeneous effects on physical and mental health, requiring further standardization and rigorous evaluation. The integration of traditional fasting practices, such as intermittent fasting and Ekadashi, with contemporary dietary recommendations suggests potential conceptual alignment, although differences in cultural context, implementation, and evidence strength necessitate cautious interpretation. Ayurveda’s dietary guidelines, focusing on individualized nutrition based on doshic constitution and the classification of foods into sattvic , rajasic , and tamasic categories, provide a traditional framework for dietary behavior, but are not uniformly supported by modern nutritional science. The perspective also explores the potential complementary role of Ayurvedic herbal practices alongside modern medical insights, with botanicals such as Ashwagandha and turmeric demonstrating investigated therapeutic properties in selected studies, though evidence quality and standardization remain variable. The integration of Ayurveda and yoga may offer supportive approaches for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, emphasizing both physiological and psychological dimensions. In conclusion, this perspective emphasizes that while yoga and Ayurveda offer conceptually valuable and clinically relevant elements, their integration into modern medical practice should be guided by critical evaluation, evidence-based validation, and clear differentiation between traditional knowledge systems and scientifically established interventions. The field remains characterized by important research gaps, necessitating further methodologically robust studies to strengthen the evidence base and clarify their role in contemporary healthcare.
Aim & Background: Lifestyle variables such as dietary habits, physical activity, sleep, and screen time are core to the prevention and control of diabetes. In light of the distinct sociocultural scenario prevalent in the Indian community and the rising cases of metabolic disorders like diabetes, a pressing need exists for a valid and reliable lifestyle measurement tool that takes into account the local culture and psychometric properties. The aim of this research was to validate the content and reliability of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) Lifestyle Questionnaire. Methods: The method of expert review was applied to evaluate the content validity of the questionnaire with 44 items covering a wide aspect of lifestyle questions. Sixty-one physicians with expertise in diabetes care were asked to rate on a four-point ordinal scale. The item-level and scale-level content validity indices (S-CVI) were estimated, and qualitative comments on clarity and relevance to culture were checked, while Cronbach’s alpha values were determined. Results: All items had high content validity, with I-CVIs ranging from 0.98 to 1.00. Overall S-CVIAve was 0.94, which is a sign of having high S-CVI. Due to the qualitative feedback, only minor changes in wording were made. There were no items deleted in the qualitative feedback. Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.96, which signified high reliability. Conclusion: The RSSDI Lifestyle Questionnaire has adequate content validity and high internal consistency. It is a valid and useful tool to measure lifestyle parameters among diabetics and those at risk of diabetes, according to Indian standards.
The RSSDI research retreat is a conference dedicated to research in the field of diabetes. In addition to KOLs presenting their research work, selected authors who have published original work in the field of diabetes are invited to present their work. This conference also has multiple workshops on various aspects of clinical research and manuscript writing.
