The Minister of Health, Aquilino Alonso, today presented to the Governing Council a report on the Comprehensive Diabetes Plan of Andalusia that prepares his department, in which priority will be given to the early diagnosis of the disease.
The new strategy will strengthen the therapeutic education programs aimed at reducing the complications of this disease, such as the so -called 'diabetic foot', and reduce the incidence of the amputations it causes, as explained by the press conference the government spokesman, Miguel ÁngelVázquez.
Likewise, the Plan will promote new technologies to respond to patients of type 1 (which includes genetic components and affects the youngest population) and to improve the detection of type 2 (linked to risk factors and lifestyles).
Regarding the monitoring of disease complications, therapeutic education will be developed through group activities, especially in primary care.
In addition, the multidisciplinary teams dedicated to the 'diabetic foot' will be reinforced, guaranteeing the access of patients, the homogenization of the activity of day hospitals and the coordination between primary and hospital care, said Vázquez.
In general, the Plan will prioritize healthy lifestyle habits among the risk population, as well as the early diagnosis that advances to the complications of the disease.
In this way, the so -called 'opportunistic screening' will be expanded, that is, the one that develops in the health centers at the doctor's discretion, which can derive for evidence to people they consider within risk groups.
The Plan will also reinforce the specific programs for the prevention of diabetic retinopathy and insulin pump therapy.
The first one included last year the screening of 369,779 people and allowed to identify 39,013 cases of this complication that can derive in loss of vision if it is not early.
Regarding insulin pump therapy, subcutaneous infusion that replaces punctures and is a great improvement in the quality of life, since its implementation in 2003 1,201 treatments have been authorized in patients with type 1 diabetes.
The prevalence rate of diabetes in Andalusia is currently estimated at 15.3 % of the adult population, almost a million people.
A total of 625.00 are patients who already have diagnosis, treatment and monitoradult people.
