Diabetes is a huge epidemiological problem, affecting about 7 percent of the population. (Speaking about the alarming increase in the number of cases is the head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetology at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, Prof. Edward Franek, MD – the chief expert of the team of the Department of Analysis and Strategy of the Ministry of Health dealing with the analysis of the health problem: diabetes).
Hidden under the name diabetes are many diseases with different clinical courses, whose common symptom is increased sugar levels. Diabetes mellitus is a difficult health problem to solve, primarily due to its chronic nature.
Having struggled with diabetes for many years, fatigue with the disease often causes a loss of interest in controlling treatment. The progressive nature of the disease, too late response to deterioration of the condition or lack of further opportunities to change medications ( because the patient got everything possible) also negatively affects metabolic equilibration, and this in turn increases the incidence of complications ( the following complications were studied: cardiovascular, ocular, renal, neuropathies, diabetic foot).
The percentage of diabetic patients with complications during the study period is relatively constant. Unfortunately, there is a group of patients who do not show up at the doctor’s office and do not take any medication. There are patients who discontinue pharmacology after two or three years of treatment. We must remember that diabetes does not give pain, and complications appear over several years. Often, it is only the consequences of untreated disease that prompt patients to see a doctor.
“…A report compiled by the diabetes team showed that the number of diabetes visits is declining. This state may be influenced by both the insufficient number of diabetologists, the unprofitability of counseling, as well as too low limits set for this type of services… It is important to have access to education and a specialist close to home… Patient education should take place not only in specialized care, but also at the level of primary care, which is not always the case at present… The fact is that education, next to drug treatment, is undoubtedly one of the most important elements of therapy. The effect of treatment depends on the patient: his lifestyle, diet, maintaining a normal BMI and physical activity…. “.
In the initial phase of treatment, patients are full of enthusiasm to make changes in their way of life. Often this enthusiasm wanes after two to three years of diabetes. Some patients have trouble managing insulin therapy properly. To be effective, education should be repeated.
“…We are not able to predict at the beginning of the disease which patient will develop complications. Therefore, access to a diabetologist and education should be available to all diagnosed patients… … there should be about 45,000 educators for this purpose… … diabetological educational advice should be included in the benefit catalogs. A certain step forward is the introduction of financing by the National Health Fund for diabetes nursing advice. It should be remembered that increased spending on proper education and effective treatment now, should result in reduced spending in the future. “
Source: Pulse of Medicine
https://pulsmedycyny.pl/o-efektach-prac-zespolu-ds-cukrzycy-w-departamencie-analiz-i-strategii-mz-mowi-prof-dr-hab-n-med-edward-franek-987062
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