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Seven Million Mexicans Suffer from Diabetes

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When was the last time you checked your blood sugar levels?

sugar in the blood

When was the last time you checked your blood sugar levels?

Of the total of diagnosed diabetics, 14.2% (just over 900 thousand), have not seen a doctor for diabetes control. But do you know what it is?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines diabetes as a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not use the insulin it produces effectively. In advanced stages it causes damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, mainly2.

There is a transitional state between normality and diabetes, it is called "prediabetes" and includes glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and impaired fasting blood glucose. Those who are in this state have a greater risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, which is the one with the highest incidence in Mexico.

Timely detection is important to establish the pertinent modifications, both in their diet and in their physical activity, and thus delay diabetes in these patients.

It is estimated that 6.4 million Mexican adults live with diabetes in our country, that is, 9.2% have already received a diagnosis of diabetes; while in the world 347 million people suffer from it, reducing their life expectancy between 5 and 10 years1.

The total number of adults with diabetes could even be double, according to previous evidence on the percentage of diabetics who do not know their condition1.

The nutritionist Edna Bravo, points out that because the adult population does not attend at least a semi-annual check-up, diabetes is not detected in a timely manner and increases the risk factors associated with starting late control treatments. Some complications it generates are heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, kidney failure, retinopathy, and visual impairment.

Of the total number of people who were identified with diabetes in the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT), 16% (just over a million) are from the group that report not having health protection, while 42% (2.7 million) are beneficiaries of the IMSS and 12% (800 thousand) of other social security institutions1.

During the last decades the number of people suffering from diabetes in Mexico has increased, a situation that has placed this disease among the leading causes of death in the country1. Of the total diagnosed diabetics, 14.2% (just over 900 thousand), have not seen a doctor to control the disease, it can be considered that they are not under treatment and therefore are delaying their control and exposing themselves to greater complications1.

Family history and causes of diabetes.

The nutritionist Edna Bravo, recommends that the detection, prevention, treatment and control of diabetes (mainly type 2), should be carried out from the age of 20 and it is recommended that it be done simultaneously with the search for other factors cardiovascular risk, such as Hypertension, dyslipidemias and presence of obesity.

The WHO reports that 50% of patients with this disease die of heart disease or stroke, mainly; at least 70% of patients have some degree of retinopathy, 10% have severe vision impairment and 2% blindness; and 10-20% of patients with diabetes die from diabetic nephropathy>2.

Treatment for a person diagnosed as diabetic is individualized and depends on a specific plan developed by the doctor and the patient, together with the health care team. This plan aims to keep the body mass index between> 18 and <25 kg / m2; control weight, especially in cases of obesity; implement a balanced diet; establish the levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin, and follow a plan of very specific physical activities in terms of intensity, frequency and duration. These actions must be periodically controlled3. The specialist suggests that each treatment be evaluated at least every six months, to verify that the patient is progressing positively.

Since obesity is an important factor in the development of this disease, the nutritionist Edna Bravo recommends maintaining a healthy body weight, avoiding alcohol and tobacco consumption, controlling blood pressure, avoiding Stress, eat a healthy diet, including organic fruits and vegetables, eliminate excessive consumption of sugar and regular exercise are the best ways to avoid developing the risk for diabetes; in addition to receiving a timely diagnosis and going to the doctor on a regular basis.

Landsteiner Scientific is a Mexican pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development, manufacture, distribution and commercialization of health products, with the mission of contributing to the well-being of society through the ethical and professional development of innovative products of excellence at the service of health. REFERENCES:

1. National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. Diabetes mellitus: The urgency of strengthening the response in public policies for its prevention and control.

2. World Health Organization 

3. Regulatory Appendix C, of ​​the Official Mexican Standard NOM-015-SSA2-2010, for the prevention, treatment and control of Diabetes Mellitus, modification of 2010.

Last modified: March 21, 2024