DIWAS conference highlights early Detection, gestational diabetes, and Inclusive wellness for maternal health

From left, Jane Hirst, professor and chair of Global Women’s Health at Imperial College, London, speaking at the event in the presence of Usha Sriram, founder of DIWAS, on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

At the ‘Diabetes Update 2025’ conference, organised by DIWAS, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to women, in association with The George Institute for Global Health, at Hyatt Regency here on February 8 and 9, experts stressed the importance of early detection of pregnancy-related health risks, such as gestational diabetes and related conditions, and called for an inclusive wellness approach to maternal health.

Jane Hirst, professor and chair of Global Women’s Health at Imperial College, London, spoke on how pregnancy can be a predictor of future health risks. “We have been looking at the issue through a window for too long. It’s time to break that window and act,” she said.

Usha Sriram, founder of DIWAS, stressed the need to view women’s health through a gendered lens and address broader social determinants. “For effective early detection and treatment, we must consider all aspects of the exposome — the complete range of environmental and lifestyle factors influencing women’s health,” she said.

Hema Divakar, division director of Well Woman Healthcare, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), said, “As a gynaecologist, the volume and complexity of the cases I see are overwhelming. We need systemic, grassroots-level changes to ensure that no woman is left out.”

The conference unveiled the ‘3 Be Project’ (Before, Between, and Beyond the pregnancy) that aims to promote preconception care, optimal nutrition, and managing pre-existing conditions for better pregnancy outcomes. ‘Be Ready’, a preconception care app designed to help women, was also launched at the event.