Detecting diabetes at age 50 can reduce life expectancy in eight years and, if already diagnosed with renal affectation, this figure rises to nine years, as noted by the president of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED), theEndocrinologist Antonio Pérez.
In addition, if the patient has cardiovascular disease and has already suffered a heart attack or some stroke, it is already in 11 years of loss of life expectancy."Therefore, there is still that important difference between people who do not have diabetes and those who have diabetes," said the president of thirst during the day 'Advances and challenges in diabetes in Spain', organized by Bioinnova Consulting and theDiabetes Madrid Association.
In fact, approximately 14 percent of the adult Spanish population has diabetes and, in addition, it is estimated that 20 percent is not diagnosed."If we do not diagnose, it is impossible to treat and we are delaying an effective treatment," Pérez has rise.
He has also warned of the "growing prevalence worldwide."This occurs mainly by "positive aspects", as the population "lasts longer."However, he has warned that a "key element" behind this rise is childhood obesity, directly related to diabetes."If it is the main risk factor and affects early, this means that we are going to have early diabetes, associated with more risk," said the expert.
Thus, he pointed out that, currently, there are better medications, but it has not improved in prevalence."Maybe we don't use them sufficiently. If we don't change the treatment guidelines, it may not have enough effectiveness," the doctor has apostilled.
On the other hand, during the meeting, diabetes stigma has also been addressed, which affects multiple spheres of life and
that, in part, is given by treatments, whose administration affects the patient's day to day.
Lack of equity and integrated care
Likewise, another of the difficulties that patients are found has to do with "the lack of equity" between the CCAA and between the centers of the same province."This refers to structural resources, which are very heterogeneous, and personnel. We have a system that was born when acute diseases predominated. The structure and way of working has changed very little," he lamented.
The doctor has also lamented the lack of connection and continuity between different care lines."Diabetes requires more integrated attention, and that there is really communication between primary and hospital care," said Pérez.
In conclusion, the expert has insisted that there are still great differences between the population with diabetes and the population without the disease."We have improved treatment to treat cardiovascular diseases, but we have not specifically attacked what differentiates the patient with diabetes from people without diabetes," the expert has detailed.
