Sanjay Kalra (born 18 April 1970) is an Indian endocrinologist working at Bharti Hospital in Karnal, Haryana. Kalra is a former president of the Endocrine Society of India,"President Message". Endocrine Society of India. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2020. the South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies, and the Indian Professional Association for Transgender Health. He has also served on the executive council of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India.
Kalra has more than 1,000 PubMed-indexed articles to his credit,"sanjaykalra - Search Results". PubMed. Retrieved 19 June 2020. and has contributed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral collaborations between various African and Asian countries in the field of endocrinology. He has developed several terms and concepts, including glucokathexis, lipokathexis, glucocrinology, ipocrinology,Kalra S, Priya G. Lipocrinology – the relationship between lipids and endocrine function. Drugs Context. 2018;7:212514. glycaemic hygiene, endocrine hygiene, and ergonomic endocrinology.
He also invented the GlucoCoper toolKalra S, Balhara YPS, Verma K, Kalra B. The GlucoCoper – a tool for the assessment of coping mechanisms. Eur Endocrinol. 2018 Apr;14(1):52–5. to assess psychological coping mechanisms in people with diabetes.Dr. Sanjay Kalra – ISBMR. Retrieved 19 June 2020. In addition, he has published work on the concepts of diabetes fatigue syndrome, euthymia in diabetes,Kalra S, Balhara YPS, Bathla M. Euthymia in diabetes. Eur Endocrinol. 2018;14(2):18–9. quaternary prevention in endocrinology,Kalra S, Gupta Y, Kalra B. Quaternary prevention and gestational diabetes mellitus. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2017;21(1):1–3. and quinary prevention."JPMA - Journal of Pakistan Medical Association". www.jpma.org.pk. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
Education
Kalra graduated from Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. He completed his postgraduation (MD) in Medicine at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, and his fellowship (DM) in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Professional contribution Kalra established Bharti Hospital in Karnal, which offers clinical care, research, training, and education in endocrinology. As executive editor (2011–15), he played a role in strengthening the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (IJEM),"Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism: About us". www.ijem.in. Retrieved 19 June 2020. which became recognised as India's second-highest-ranked scientific journal according to Google Metrics. He also serves as executive editor of Thyroid Research and Practice and associate editor of Diabetic Medicine (UK). In addition, he is an international advisory board member for several journals, including US Endocrinology, the Sri Lankan Journal of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (SLJDEM), the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, and the Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology Association of Nepal (JDEAN).
As a founder member and past president, Kalra has contributed to the establishment and growth of the South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES).Kalra S, Sahay RK, Bajaj S. South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies: a beginning well begun. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(6):955–6. His contributions have been recognised in neighbouring countries, and he has been awarded Fellowship and Life Membership of the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists (SLCE), as well as life membership of the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES).
Contribution to science and evidence base of insulin therapy As of January 2024, Kalra has more than 23,000 citations of his publications, with an h-index of 68 and an i10-index of 439. His primary area of focus has been insulin therapy.
Basal Kalra has remained updated with advancements in insulin therapy and has authored several articles on the evolution of basal insulins and their patient-centred use in various clinical settings.Kalra S, Abodo J, Sobngwi E, Sani Ma M, Villaroel D, Kapoor N, et al. A hundred years on: The role of human insulin. J Pak Med Assoc. 2022;72(12):2563-4.Kalra S. Insulin degludec: a significant advancement in ultralong-acting Basal insulin. Diabetes Ther. 2013;4(2):167-73.Kalra S. Basal insulin analogues in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: what progress have we made? Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(Suppl 1):S71-3.Kalra S. Newer basal insulin analogues: degludec, detemir, glargine. J Pak Med Assoc. 2013;63(11):1442-4.Kalra S. Comment on "Treatment persistence after initiating basal insulin in type 2 diabetes patients: a primary care database analysis": By Pscherer S et al. published in Prim. Care Diabetes 2015;9(5):377–84. Prim Care Diabetes. 2016;10(4):309–10.Kalra S, Baruah MP, Niazi AK. Degludec: a novel basal insulin. Recent Pat Endocr Metab Immune Drug Discov. 2012;6(1):18–23.Home P, Blonde L, Kalra S, Ji L, Guyot P, Brulle-Wohlhueter C, et al. Insulin glargine/lixisenatide fixed-ratio combination (iGlarLixi) compared with premix or addition of meal-time insulin to basal insulin in people with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2020;22(11):2179–88.Kalra S. High concentration insulin. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2018;22(1):160–3.Kalra S. Auxiliendo, primum non nocere: a preliminary view of the DEVOTE Trial comparing cardiovascular safety of insulin degludec versus insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Ther. 2017;8(2):213–7.Ramachandran A, Gupta V, Kesavadev J, Kalra S. Understanding the safety of the new ultra long acting basal insulin. J Assoc Physicians India. 2014;62(1 Suppl):35–42.Kalra S. Insulin degludecaspart: the first co-formulation of insulin analogues. Diabetes Ther. 2014;5(1):65–72.Kalra S, Gupta Y. Clinical use of insulin degludec: practical experience and pragmatic suggestions. N Am J Med Sci. 2015;7(3):81–5.
He has also written on the use of basal insulin in special populations such as paediatric groups and pregnant women.Ghosh S, KalraS, Bantwal G, Sahay RK. Use of second-generation basal insulin Gla-300 in special populations: a narrative mini-review. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2023;19(9):e090123212447.Dhingra M, Priya G, Dhingra A, Kalra S. Subcutaneous insulin administration in infants and toddlers. J Pak Med Assoc. 2018;68(12):1840–2.Kalra S, Hirsch LJ, Frid A, Deeb A, Strauss KW. Pediatric insulin injection technique: a multi-country survey and clinical practice implications. Diabetes Ther. 2018;9(6):2291–2302.Kalra S, Unnikrishnan AG, Sahay R. Pediatric diabetes: Potential for insulin degludec. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2014;18(Suppl 1):S6–8.Kalra S, Deeb AA, Dhingra M, Strauss K. Paediatric insulin injection technique: the softer side. J Pak Med Assoc. 2018;68(8):1270–2.Kalra S, Jawad F. Insulin therapy in pregnancy. J Pak Med Assoc. 2016;66(9 Suppl 1):S48–51.
His research also includes strategies for intensifying basal insulin therapy and optimising injection techniques.Kalra S. Patient friendly intensification of basal insulin. Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(Suppl 1):S72.Priya G, Kalra S, Bahendeka S, Jawad F, Aye TT, Shahjada S, et al. Initiation of basal bolus insulin therapy. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020;70(8):1462–7.Kalra S, Gupta Y. Basal insulin inadequacy versus failure – Using appropriate terminology. Eur Endocrinol. 2015;11(2):79–80.
In addition to work on type 2 diabetes, Kalra has written extensively on insulin use in type 1 diabetes.Kalra S, Bajaj S, Sharma SK, Priya G, Baruah MP, Sanyal D, et al. A practitioner's toolkit for insulin motivation in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence-based recommendations from an International Expert Panel. Diabetes Ther. 2020;11(3):585–606.Priya G, Kalra S. A review of insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes: is there a place for adjunctive metformin? Diabetes Ther. 2018;9(1):349–61.Arora S, Agrawal NK, Shanthaiah DM, Verma A, Singh S, Patne SCU, et al. Early detection of cutaneous complications of insulin therapy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prim Care Diabetes. 2021;15(5):859–64.
Premixed Appropriate patient selection is an essential component of successful premixed insulin therapy. Kalra was the lead author of a comprehensive review developed with collaborators from more than 25 countries.Kalra S, Czupryniak L, Kilov G, Lamptey R, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan AG, et al. Expert Opinion: Patient selection for premixed insulin formulations in diabetes care. Diabetes Ther. 2018;9(6):2185–99.
He has also published extensively on the use of premixed insulin during Ramadan and on its role in special situations, from initiation to intensification.Kalra S, Jawad F, Latif ZA, Pathan MF. Risk stratification of persons on premixed insulin in Ramadan. J Pak Med Assoc. 2017;67(11):1771–4.El Naggar N, Kalra S. Switching from biphasic human insulin to premix insulin analogs: a review of the evidence regarding quality of life and adherence to medication in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adv Ther. 2017;33(12):2091–109.Mohan V, Kalra S, Kesavadev J, Singh AK, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan AG, et al. Consensus on initiation and intensification of premix insulin in type 2 diabetes management. J Assoc Physicians India. 2017;65(4):59–73.Shaikh S, Latheef A, Razi SM, Khan SA, Sahay R, Kalra S. Diabetes Management During Ramadan. 2022 May 18. In: Feingold KR et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. MDText.com, Inc.Kalra S. Insulin degludec and insulin degludec/insulin aspart in Ramadan: a single center experience. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(4):564–7.Pathan MF, Sahay RK, Zargar AH, Raza SA, Khan AK, Ganie MA, et al. South Asian Consensus Guideline: Use of insulin in diabetes during Ramadan. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;16(4):499–502.Kalra S, Jawad F. Insulin in Ramadan. J Pak Med Assoc. 2015;65(5 Suppl 1):S44–6.Pathan F, Latif ZA, Sahay RK, Zargar AH, Raza SA, Khan AK, et al. Update to South Asian consensus guideline: Use of newer insulins in diabetes during Ramadan. J Pak Med Assoc. 2016;66(6):777–8.
He has also published updates on premixed insulins, including real-world evidence regarding newer co-formulations.Kalra S. Recent advances in premixed insulin. J Pak Med Assoc. 2014;64(2):220–3.Kalra S, Atkin S, Cervera A, Das AK, Demir O, Demir T, et al. Correction to: Multinational consensus: insulin initiation with insulin degludec/aspart (IDegAsp). Adv Ther. 2018;35(7):937–8.Kalra S, Atkin S, Cervera A, Das AK, Demir O, Demir T, et al. Multinational Consensus: Insulin Initiation with Insulin Degludec/Aspart (IDegAsp). Adv Ther. 2018;35(7):928–36.Kalra S, Baruah MP. Insulin degludecaspart: one-year real world experience. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(3):369–71.Das AK, Kalra S, Akhtar S, Shetty R, Kumar A. Clinical experience of switching from biphasic human insulin to biphasic insulin aspart 30 in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes in the A1chieve study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2015;19(1):110–5.Kalra S, Garg L, Suri S, Aggarwal S. Clinical experience with insulin detemir, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with type 2 diabetes: Results from the Haryana cohort of the A1chieve study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(Suppl 2):S538–41.Unnikrishnan AG, Kalra S, Baruah M. The other insulin story of 1921. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;15(3):147–8.
Motivation, technique, and counselling