DW BUREAU / Chandigarh The latest findings of the India Diabetes Care Index (IDCI) suggest that glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c level decreased from 8.16% to 7.85% in April to June 2020 in Chandigarh than the previous quarter. IDCI is a part of the 'Impact India: 1000-Day Challenge' programme by Novo Nordisk India and serves as a guiding tool for the status of diabetes care across multiple cities, states, and the country as a whole. The HbA1C value gives an idea about the average blood glucose level over three months in an individual and is one of the best-recommended indicators of long-term blood glucose control. Approximately 1100 people with an average age of 60 years were part of the assessment in Chandigarh, out of which 78 per cent were male, and 22 per cent were female. Furthermore, the average postprandial glucose level in the quarter was 224 mg/dl, and the average fasting glucose level was 162 mg/dl. Speaking about this decrease in HbA1c level in Chandigarh, Dr Anil Bhansali, Head of Endocrinology at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Educations and Research (PGIMER, Chandigarh), said, "It seems that people living with diabetes have been trying their best to manage diabetes from home, resulting in an overall decrease of HbA1c status during the pandemic. This also shows that taking care of diabetes at home is feasible." The improving trend in HbA1c level is a sign of relief as people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19. It has been shown that older adults and people with pre-existing medical conditions like hypertension, heart disease and pulmonary disorders and obesity-related conditions are also at a higher risk of experiencing severe complications due to COVID-19. People with diabetes should maintain an adequate stock of medications and supplies for monitoring blood glucose at home. Any warning signs like difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains, sore throat, headache, loss of taste or smell etc. should not be ignored and medical attention should be sought immediately. The 'Impact India: 1000-Day Challenge' programme was launched in November 2018 to address the issue of sub-optimally controlled diabetes in India. The programme aims to reduce the national average of HbA1c by one per cent, which can help decrease the risk of diabetes-related complications. Based on big data analytics, iDCI has been providing a real-time view of the average HbA1c in India across select cities. Under the Impact India programme, digital platforms are being leveraged to partner with healthcare practitioners (doctors and paramedics) to evolve and implement an approach to diabetes care appropriate for India. iDCI is a dynamic tool that not only tracks the status of diabetes care but also helps to increase awareness, motivate and sensitise the healthcare professionals (HCPs) and society. The IMPACT India programme will continue its three-pronged approach over the next one year through interactions with healthcare practitioners (HCPs), societal and patient engagement and monitoring. (editor@dailyworld.in)