2023-11-14 13:15:14
Type 2 diabetes, which represents up to 95% of cases of this disease, affects people who have a relative deficiency of insulin and resistance to its action in the tissues. However, according to the estimate Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN), almost half of these people would be undiagnosed.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Daywhich is celebrated this November 14, the SEEN wanted to put the focus on this underdiagnosis and has launched the campaign ‘Shining light on hidden diabetes’, in order to raise awareness in society about the importance of knowing the risk of presenting diabetes o’prediabetes‘, since it responds to cases in which although glucose levels do not meet the criteria for diabetes, they cannot be considered completely normal.
Given these high figures, Fernando Gomez Peraltafrom the SEEN, highlights that “these situations can be assessed considering a series of risk factors, such as age, body mass index (weight and height), waist circumference, physical activity, fruit intake and vegetables, the presence of hypertension, a history of high glucose and those of family members with diabetes.
Furthermore, the SEEN joins the motto «Know your risk, Know your response», promoted by the International Diabetes Federation.
«People with type 2 diabetes spend many years with high glucose levels before being diagnosed, since hyperglycemia develops gradually and, in the early stages of the disease, blood glucose levels are not high enough to be associated with the typical symptoms of the disease (weight loss, increased urine volume and fluid intake),” says Gómez Peralta, from SEEN.
For the endocrinologist, “effective interventions” in people who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes have been shown to be able to delay the progression from the condition of “prediabetes” to diabetes. These interventions have shown that “a change in lifestyle habits with a personalized low-calorie eating plan and an increase in physical activity are very effective in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.”
People with type 2 diabetes spend many years with high glucose levels before being diagnosed
Fernando Gomez Peralta
SEEN
People with “prediabetes” have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, so “all risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, must be detected and treated.”
Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by the presence of high levels of plasma glucose (blood sugar). “The causes of this ‘hyperglycemia’ can be multiple, which leads to the existence of different types of diabetes (type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, etc.),” explains Gómez Peralta.
Complications
Regarding the complications associated with the disease that patients may suffer “even if they have not been diagnosed,” he maintains that “screening programs such as ophthalmological examination, evaluation of kidney function and damage or examination of the feet are aimed at identifying complications associated with diabetes when they are still in the initial stages, allowing to reduce the risk of progression to more advanced stages with the consequent significant deterioration in quality of life (cardiovascular problems, decreased vision, advanced kidney disease or injuries linked to diabetic foot).
The treatment of people with type 2 diabetes should include healthy lifestyle habits, education and support for self-care, as well as taking into account the social determinants that can influence the disease.
In relation to Pharmacotherapy“is based on person-centered factors based on the rest of the associated pathologies and individualized objectives.”
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