Diabetologist Says Don't Misjudge Diabetes Or High BP As Mere Fever

Do you think that stopping medication for chronic conditions is safe once symptoms lessen or health metrics improve? If so, you might want to reconsider.

In an August 3 Instagram video, Dr Brijmohan Arora, a diabetologist with over 2 decades of experience in Dwarka, New Delhi, advised on the long-term management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Dr Arora highlighted a common and potentially harmful misunderstanding among patients who believe these conditions are temporary — they often think that medications should be treated like short-term cures for ailments such as a fever or urinary tract infection, which can be stopped once the symptoms are gone.

Dr Arora mentioned in the video he shared in Hindi: “Patients often take their medication and believe that ailments like diabetes and high BP (blood pressure) are like a fever; once they stabilise slightly, they cease taking it. This is a mistake that should be avoided.”

In his caption, he detailed that the vast majority of patients mistakenly compare diabetes or high BP medications to treatments for a common cold or fever: “Most patients believe that treating diabetes or high BP is akin to treating a fever, cold, or urinary infection — 'Numbers stabilise → Stop medication'. However, diabetes and hypertension are chronic conditions, not short-lived diseases.”

These persistent metabolic disorders inflict silent damage

He expressed that these conditions are persistent metabolic disorders causing hidden, ongoing harm to essential organs and body systems, including:

• Heart
• Kidney
• Eyes
• Nerves
• Blood vessels

Dr Arora emphasised that patients must avoid the pitfall of stopping their therapy as soon as their health readings appear stable, underscoring the contrast between managing chronic diseases and handling short-term health issues.

He pointed out that one of the leading causes of severe outcomes is halting treatment simply because health readings seem stable, leading to severe complications like:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Vision loss

He urged, “Please don't subject your body to this oversight. If your numbers are 'normal,' it just indicates the treatment is effective — it doesn't mean the disease has ceased.”

Note to readers: This piece is for informational purposes only and not a replacement for professional medical advice.