Diabetes mellitus raises the risk of sudden death by 6 times
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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"It is possible to control the course of diabetes if the blood glucose levels are kept constant at levels close to normal. Diabetes is not a sentence and not necessarily a fatal disease or one that leads to complications. With adequate and timely treatment, with an adequate attitude of the patient to their disease, all complications of diabetes are completely preventable, "said Boris Mankovsky, professor, doctor of medical sciences, head of the department of diabetology of the National Academy of Postgraduate Education. P.L. Shupika, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Boris Mankovsky drew attention to such major obstacles in achieving effective control of diabetes mellitus, such as untimely diagnosis, the appointment of inadequate therapy, the fear of developing hypoglycemia and increasing the patient's body weight, low patient adherence to treatment, lack of self-control skills and fear of insulin therapy. "Diabetes mellitus is multifaceted and really requires a lot of attention not only from the doctors of endocrinologists but also from the doctors of all specialties, society, government. In the 21st century, diabetes mellitus will play the same role as the plague, cholera and other, particularly dangerous infections, played in the Middle Ages, "stressed Mankovsky.
Almost everyone knows about the problems caused by high blood glucose, but little is known about the troubles associated with lowering the sugar level than normal - hypoglycemia. So, the main manifestations of hypoglycemia, like irritability, anxiety, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness and a constant feeling of hunger, are often not identified with a decrease in glucose, not only by patients, but also by the treating physicians. In addition, according to Boris Mankovsky, most doctors do not achieve a good result of hypoglycemic therapy because they fear the development of hypoglycemia in the patient. "But in fact, in the whole process of diabetes care and in the prevention of hypoglycemic conditions and their consequences, in particular, the active participation should take the patient. For his part, the doctor must provide the patient with all the necessary information and teach basic skills in the fight against hypoglycemia. First of all, the patient should be taught to recognize the hypoglycemic state at an early stage and the algorithm of actions, "the doctor drew attention.
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According to the International Diabetes Federation in 2011, the number of people living with diabetes in the world reached 366 million, and by 2030, according to expert estimates, this figure will exceed 550 million, unless active measures are taken to prevent further increase in the prevalence of diabetes. That is, every tenth adult inhabitant of the planet will suffer from diabetes. Every year the number of patients with diabetes increases by 10 million, that is, every ten seconds there are three new cases of the disease. Half of the patients with diabetes are not aware of the presence of their disease and are at very high risk of developing complications and premature death.
At present, according to the Ministry of Health, in Ukraine, officially registered 1 million 300 patients with diabetes mellitus. But, in fact, according to experts, this figure is much higher and reaches 3 million patients with diabetes mellitus. At the same time, the number of diagnosed cases increases by 5% per year.
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