Comorbidity linked to diabetes poses care challenges associated with diagnosis and treatment
In the coming years there is an increase in comorbidity among patients with diabetes motivated, mainly by changes in food and sedentary lifestyle.
This means more diabetic patients with cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, nephropathy or diabetic foot that require a more complex approach and, with it, the increase in health care costs.This new scenario poses some care challenges, associated with the appropriate diagnosis and treatment, object of analysis in the 'Diabetes y Comorbidity' day, a recently organized meeting in Granada by the Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP) and that has had theSponsorship of the Biopharmaceutical Company Astrazeneca.
The day, in which around 75 experts were met in different clinical specialties, among family doctors, nurses, internists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and ophthalmologists, reinforces the importance of prevention and multidisciplinary approach in care for patients with needs with needshealth complex.As Joan Carles March, director of the EASP, pointed out, "this day brings the vision of diabetes from the different professional fronts from which it is attended to see how each one works, what do you need from the other and what common needs it has."
He also had a space for exchange between professionals and management of the School of Patients as well as Hospitals and Primary Care professionals, not forgetting those of different specialties linked to different comorbidities. “This space wants to be a point of help in the search for aspectsCommon from the perspective of the different actors involved in diabetes care, to help improve the patient's health in their globality, ”said Joan Carles March, who confirmed that last year about 5,000 health professionals participated in face -to -face activitiesorganized by this institution.
Challenges in diabetes
Diabetes and comorbidity is a relevant health problem, due to prevalence and impact on health results, which requires a great research effort.In studies related to this disease, the focus focuses on prevention, as well as the transfer of research into clinical practice and the incorporation of technology applied in people with diabetes with efficiency criteria.Along these lines, Dr. María Asunción Martínez, director of the Comprehensive Diabetes Plan of Andalusia (Pidma), highlighted the need to “especially enhance research in intervention measures oriented to the prevention of diabetes in high -risk population andClinical research in those aspects related to diabetes that have a relevant health impact ”.
Despite all this, this group of special complex patients pose some important care challenges that range from the prevention of complications associated with diabetes, through the early detection of these, to coordinated and rapid care in situations of special complexity.With regard to prevention, said Dr. Martínez, "part of the solution is in the optimization of the control of risk factors and therapeutic education to provide patients with tools necessary for self -care."
In the field of early detection, where a diabetic retinopathy slow program has already been successfully implanted, “we have to be able to win in efficiency, expanding the profile of the screening professional and enhancing the technological development that expedites management and management andAutomated reading of retinographies, ”said this expert.