Even 6 million Poles may be at risk of type 2 diabetes, because they have the so-called pre-diabetes. In addition, at least 750 diabetics are unaware of the disease and are not treated, alarmed diabetologists at a press conference on Tuesday.
The 6th edition of the National Preventive and Educational Action Servier – a friend in diabetes mellitus was inaugurated there. During the event, the organizers offer free tests (including blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure measurement) and consultations with a diabetologist, cardiologist and dietitian. They will be conducted in four cities: Warsaw in Krakowskie Przedmieście (May 17 until 18 pm), Kraków (May 20 and 21), Białystok (May 24) and Poznań (May 26). More information on this subject and on diabetes itself can be found on the campaign’s website (www.wygrajzcukrzyca.pl).
Type 2 diabetes is most common in adults over 45, especially those who run the so-called unhealthy lifestyle – they eat too high in calories, move little, smoke cigarettes. This form of the disease accounts for about 90 percent. all cases of diabetes. The disease develops for many years without symptoms, but during this time it wreaks havoc on the body – it damages the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart and blood vessels. That is why it is very important that we actively search for people with diabetes among those at risk – said diabetologist prof. Waldemar Karnafel from the Medical University of Warsaw.
According to the recommendations of the Polish Diabetes Association (PTD) for 2011, testing for diabetes should be performed annually by people from risk groups: i.e. overweight or obese (body mass index, BMI, equal to or higher than 25 kg / m2), little physically active, with diabetes in the family (in parents or siblings), women who gave birth to a child weighing more than 4 kg or had gestational diabetes, patients with arterial hypertension, too high cholesterol or triglycerides, patients with cardiovascular disease, women with polycystic ovary syndrome and people with abnormal fasting glucose levels (above 100 mg per deciliter) or glucose intolerance in a previous study.
In addition, people without risk factors, but over 45 years of age, should have such tests every three years.
It is true that there are symptoms that may suggest diabetes, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, visual disturbances, drowsiness, weakness, poorly healing skin inflammation, weight loss. However, they appear at a much advanced stage of diabetes – emphasized diabetologist prof. Jacek Sieradzki from Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
According to specialists, patients from groups at risk of type 2 diabetes should ask their primary care physicians to test their fasting glucose level (the cost of such a test is PLN 3-5). Patients must be aware that they deserve such a test – said Prof. Karnafel. He also added that it was a test performed in a laboratory, not with a blood glucose meter.
As recommended by the PTD, diabetes is diagnosed if a patient’s fasting glucose is 126 mg / dL or higher on two consecutive days. At values of 100-125 mg / dl, pre-diabetes is observed. Then it is reasonable to perform the so-called oral glucose tolerance test. Diabetes is diagnosed when the blood glucose level is 200 mg / dL or higher.
Early diagnosis of diabetes allows for intensive treatment that significantly reduces the risk of serious complications of this disease – noted Prof. Karnafel. Unfortunately, even in half of patients type 2 diabetes is diagnosed only when serious complications develop – visual disturbances, kidney problems, heart attack, stroke or the need to amputate a leg (PAP).