Diabetes represents an annual expense of 365,547,043 million US dollars. In 2021, this disease caused 3,467 deaths.
The Paraguayan Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SPEM) made a statement in which it recalls that November 14 is World Diabetes Day, and in this sense they join the campaign led globally by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which this year emphasizes education to prevent this condition in the population at risk.
“Education to protect tomorrow” is the motto this year in commemoration of World Diabetes Day. The Paraguayan Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SPEM) joins the campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which this year emphasizes the value of EDUCATION to protect the QUALITY OF LIFE of People with Diabetes and in the PREVENTION of PEOPLE at RISK of DEVELOPING it.
“Only an informed patient is adherent to his treatment and persistent enough in it to avoid the complications of diabetes. Diabetes education is a patient’s right and must be guaranteed by the state and official institutions. That is the meaning of this year’s motto”, indicates the SPEM statement.
“This year, the IDF invites us to reflect and calls us to action before the relevant institutions to implement public policies that facilitate the access of people with diabetes to diabetes education. In chronic health problems such as diabetes, where self-care is so important, the person’s understanding affects the nature of their problem, the acquisition of skills such as self-monitoring, the titration, application and dosage of their own medication, taking Decision-making about their diet in various environments depends on an educational process, which, although it is part of the functions of the professional specialist, exceeds the framework of a regular consultation in the medical office”, he adds.
Remember also that the treatment requires the participation of a multidisciplinary team: professionals in medicine, nursing, nutrition, podiatry.
The letter points out that although much progress has been made in this regard in our country, public and social security institutions have taken important steps, however, greater private initiatives may be lacking. “The issue of education is an issue that should be transversal to the entire community involved in the problem, patients and professionals. The constant updating of the health team is essential, due to the continuous progress in terms of the appearance of pathophysiological concepts, new molecules and therapeutic and monitoring technology. The responsibility of scientific societies in this sense is non-transferable”, he states.
figures
In Paraguay, the updated official figures for this decade speak of a 9.7% prevalence, being 11.1% for women and 7.9% for men.
According to the IDF, 37% of affected people are unaware that they have the pathology and in general it represents an annual expenditure of 365,547,043 million US dollars. In 2021, diabetes caused 3,467 deaths.
The Paraguayan Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SPEM) is one of the entities in our country that brings together specialists dedicated to caring for people with endocrinological conditions.
