face diabetes, a challenge
Madrid.- 'If things continue as until now, in 2025 there will be 380 million diabetics in the world'.The forecasts scare, but, fortunately, we are not talking about an inexorable destination.Experts remember that it is possible to face diabetes, although before winning important challenges.The latest installment of the magazine 'The Lancet' reviews in a special number the main challenges to meet:
recognize and act on the risk sectors .In recent years, different investigations have shown that certain ethnic groups- such as Asians or African Americans- have a much greater predisposition than the rest of the populations of developing diabetes, which significantly increases their chances of suffering a heart problem.According to one of the research that is published in the scientific journal, creating specific strategies for these populations could report benefits when preventing future complications.
An example is the initiative of a British team, which studied the effects of introducing a special program to improve cardiovascular risk factors in patients of Asian origin with type 2 diabetes. Compared to those who received conventional care, who followed the adapted methodThey experienced minor but significant improvements in their levels of cholesterol and blood pressure."Although small, these benefits were more important than those achieved in recent times in the United Kingdom," the authors comment in their work.
avoid the emergence of the disease in young people and adolescents .The incidence of diabetes in minors has grown vertiginously in a very short time.And, judging by the results of another of the investigations that appear in this special issue, the figures could continue to increase.
This work analyzed the type 1 diabetes rates in Finland, the country of the world with the highest number of these patients.According to their data, in the last 25 years the number of children suffering from type 1 diabetes has been doubled and the trend is shown up.Their predictions ensure that the number of children's diagnoses "will double in the next 15 years and the beginning of the pathology will occur in even earlier ages."
The development of the disorder is attributed to both genetic and environmental factors that have not yet been discovered .In a comment that accompanies this work in the magazine, it is noted that, identifying the cause of this increase in the incidence is precisely the main challenge of research for the coming years.
find new and better treatments .In the world there are already 246 million diabetic adults;Therefore, not only prevention is important.Improving existing treatments and looking for new therapies could help many patients had a better quality of life.According to another of the works that appear in ‘The Lancet’, one of the keys to treating newly diagnosed patients could go through insulin therapy early.
Generally, when a person develops type 2 diabetes, the treatment he receives at the beginning is an oral medication.However, this research suggests that, from the beginning, insulin could generate important benefits in the recovery and maintenance of these patient's beta cell function.After analyzing a group of 382 Chinese patients for approximately two years, the researchers discovered that those who had followed an intensive insulin therapy had better results.The intervention seemed to have altered the course of the disease.
Promote lifestylehealthy .Healthy eating and daily exercise.Experts agree that this is one of the main keys to keep cardiovascular problems and diabetes away;And a new study confirms it again.This work, which analyzed the case of 577 adults from 33 Chinese clinics who presented symptoms of glucose intolerance (a risk factor for developing diabetes), demonstrates that leading a healthy lifestyle is the bestPassport to a future with health .
For a period of six years, the researchers asked a part of the participants to follow a diet and exercise program.The rest could only regime, physical activities or not follow any type of pattern.After a follow -up of approximately 20 years, the authors of this study verified that the benefits of those who followed healthy lifestyle were not only notable, but also durable.In these cases the appearance of diabetes was foreseen or, at least, it was delayed in about 14 years.
In an editorial that accompanies these works, the medical magazine highlights that scientific research on diabetes is a key issue today."The main challenge is to transfer the new findings in substantial improvements for patients," says the document." and although the perspectives are good, they are not assured ," he concludes.