LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, November 13 (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Directorates General of Public Health, Patient Care and Chronic Diseases of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), in coordination with the Federation of Diabetes Associations of the Canary Islands (FAdiCAN), joins the celebration of World Diabetes Day, which takes place annually on the 14th November by the International Diabetes Federation. Currently, 174,343 patients with type 2 diabetes are registered in the archipelago.
Through an information campaign, the Canarian Health Service (SCS) is launching a campaign to inform citizens about the importance of diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyles, as well as early diagnosis, care and well-being of people with diabetes.
The initiative will be disseminated on social networks, on the Canarias Saludable channel of the General Directorate of Public Health of the GCS, and through posters and leaflets in health centers, the regional Ministry of Health said in a press release.
In parallel with this campaign and in celebration of this World Day, health workers are expected to conduct activities in their health centers to promote healthy habits, nutrition and physical activity, and identify the risk of developing type 2 diabetes through the use of the FINDRISC score, which is a simple a screening tool that assesses an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes over 10 years using eight simple questions.
In the Canary Islands, a total of 174,343 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were registered in the SCS health register, although it was clarified that this was data from the medical record, but “there is an underdiagnosis” of type 2 diabetes. , as symptoms may be mild or absent, so he points out that the number of people with diabetes in the archipelago is “higher than reported.”
Regarding the condition of diabetes, they emphasize that “it goes beyond blood glucose levels” and can affect all aspects of life: physical, emotional, social, work, school, reducing well-being. “You can’t take a break from diabetes, and people with diabetes need to be organized, resilient and responsible to succeed in their treatment,” he emphasizes.
In this sense, it indicates that some suggestions that improve well-being and “can make a difference” are contained in therapeutic diabetes education, as it can help to fully focus on and adapt to the condition, reducing stress and anxiety.
Likewise, understanding how the body works, how to eat, count portions, exercise and take medications, while avoiding complications and risks, increases safety and well-being. Technology also makes it easier to identify, treat and monitor diabetes; optimizes glucose levels (especially at night), predicts changes in glucose levels, reduces the frequency, severity and fear of hypoglycemia (in children and adults), improves quality of life and increases the sense of well-being in people who use it and those who care for them .
On the other hand, SCS’s service portfolio includes various devices for self-management and monitoring of people with diabetes, such as glucose monitoring systems and continuous insulin infusion pumps.
In this sense, the GCS has prescribed a total of 2,850 glucose monitoring systems during 2024, the approval of which does not require the assessment of the Technical Group for the Evaluation and Monitoring of Insulin Continuous Infusion Pumps and Glucose Monitoring Systems. . Glucose levels in the Canary Islands, so the number of sensor prescriptions in hospitals and primary care settings has almost tripled compared to 2023.
Between January and October 2024, this technical group approved a total of 503 applications to increase the number of insulin pumps (103), particularly those attached to a sensor (275) and continuous glucose sensors (116). More and more technologies are required for the pediatric population (281) and for women during pregnancy or planning (24).
HEALTH CLASSES
The Ministry of Health also reported on “Health Classes”, a group-based health education program that has been developed in health centers in the Canary Islands since 2006 and integrates all group educational activities aimed at the population.
In this sense, Health Classes developed 5,233 courses divided into 27,676 sessions between January and October 2024, with 302,621 participants (163,794 women and 138,827 men). Of the activities mentioned above, 57 focused specifically on diabetes and were divided into 210 sessions with 907 participants (501 women and 406 men).
In terms of promotion and prevention, interventions on nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation were also developed, resulting in a total of 210 courses, divided into 1724 sessions, with 6957 participants (4181 women and 2776 men). support the promotion and prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Finally, they point out that there is extensive scientific evidence on the relationship between “inappropriate” dietary patterns and the development of preventable chronic diseases, which is why the General Directorate of Public Health is implementing a number of programs and actions targeting different areas to contribute to capacity development strategies aimed at promoting adherence to the Canary population to healthy and sustainable nutrition from an early age and throughout life.