The first Diabetes day hospital is born in the Region of Murcia to improve patient care and coordination between health centers and hospitals.In our community more than 170,000 people are diabetic, of which about 60,000 are undiagnosed.A serious health problem to which another worrying fact must be added: obesity affects 25% of the Murcian population and overweight affects 60%.
The Day Hospital, one of the first in Spain, is located in the 'Doctor Quesada' Specialty Center of San Andrés in Murcia and currently serves patients from Health Area 1.It has been in operation for four weeks in which 15 patients referred from primary care or hospital emergencies have been treated, which has made it possible to avoid unnecessary consultations and even hospital admissions, as explained by the Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño.
Patients treated at this new day hospital have noticed a great improvement in care and quality of life.Ana Martínez, daughter of an 86-year-old woman with diabetes and Alzheimer's, explains how with a patch and a sensor her mother is monitored 24 hours a day while the hospital has a daily reading of everything that happens in the patient's body.He states that, in addition to the treatment, they feel listened to.
In addition to medical care, patients are offered information to encourage self-care so that the person with diabetes better understands their disease and knows how to manage it.The incidence of diabetes continues to increase in the Region and reaches 15% of the population.There are 110,000 people diagnosed, to which we must add another 60,000 undiagnosed.Mercedes Ferrer, head of the Endocrinology service at Arrixaca, explains that more than 50% of the Murcian population is overweight, an "unaffordable epidemic" for the regional health system.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with physical exercise, a balanced diet, not smoking or drinking alcohol.Healthy habits that must be instilled in society from childhood, since obesity or cases of diabetes are being detected with increasing frequency at an early age.
Resources of the new day hospital
Among its staff, this new hospital has three endocrinologists, two diabetes educators (nurses) and two auxiliary nursing care technicians, and it uses cutting-edge technology for optimal patient care.
The new diabetes day hospital has an area of nearly 100 square meters, along with the current Diabetes Unit.It will have a large space with 2-3 treatment chairs and for group education, two consultations and one more for obesity.Currently, the Diabetes Unit of the I-Murcia Oeste health area, whose reference hospital is Arrixaca, cares for an average of 250 patients per week.
One of the first objectives set by the Arrixaca Endocrinology Service Service is for the Diabetes Unit, together with the day hospital, to be the nerve center of care for diabetic patients at the different levels of care with a training program that includes rotations of health professionals from the Arrixaca Emergency Department and Primary Care.
