Diabetes Awareness Day
Preventive care at the center of the debate for Diabetes Awareness Day
30/04/2024
The date is celebrated annually on 14/11 and raises awareness about the pathology that is growing in Brazil
World Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Day, celebrated annually on 14/11, aims to raise awareness of the importance of carrying out routine exams, which help to identify the disease, in addition to remembering the importance of healthy practices that prevent its development.
In Brazil, diabetic rates grow annually, according to the ninth edition of the Diabetes Atlas, produced every two years by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and which examines the behavior of 138 countries.
Type 1 diabetes – when the pancreas stops producing the insulin needed to use glucose – is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and occurs in one in every 350 children up to the age of 18.
Studies indicate that those over five years of age have been the main group affected lately. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, has higher rates between the ages of 15 and 19 and is associated with overweight and obesity; excess sugar and fat intake; sedentary lifestyle; family history and genetic inheritance, in addition to stress; alcoholism; pre-diabetes; previous gestational diabetes; systemic arterial hypertension and history of previous cardiovascular disease.
One of doctors’ concerns is how to protect diabetics from cardiovascular complications. According to research from bodies such as the Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD), the disease is considered one of the biggest risk factors for heart problems. Therefore, the importance of preventively protecting heart patients treated by Pro Criança Cardiac.
According to the medical director of Pro Criança Cardiac, Dr. Isabela Rangel, diabetes can be a silent disease and, if periodic medical examinations are not carried out, the person may not be aware that they have this condition. “I believe that the delay in diagnosing the disease and the lack of understanding on the part of the family and the patient themselves about the complications that can occur without adequate treatment are the main difficulties in reducing cardiovascular complications, among others”, he reinforces.
Preventive care is part of the routine of doctors and patients at Pro Criança, as well as multidisciplinary care: the Nutrition team carries out assessments and indicates, case by case, the quantity and desirable sources of calories for patients with cardiovascular diseases and overweight . This practice also helps the family to maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
Dr. Isabela Rangel draws attention to the need for a balanced diet, regular physical exercise and periodic monitoring of blood glucose levels and taking medication when prescribed by the doctor.
