In the coming years there is an increase in comorbidity among patients with diabetes motivated, mainly by changes in food and sedentary lifestyle.

This implies more diabetic patients with cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, nephropathy or diabetic foot that require a more complex approach and, with it, the increase in health care costs.

This new scenario poses some care challenges, associated with the adequate diagnosis and treatment, object of analysis in the day 'Diabetes y Comorbidity', a meeting organized in Granada by the Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP) that had the sponsorship of Astrazeneca.

The day, in which around 75 experts were met in different clinical specialties, among family doctors, nurses, internists, cardiologists, endocrinologists and ophthalmologists, reinforces the importance of prevention and multidisciplinary approach in care for patients with needs with needshealth complex.

As Joan Carles March, director of the EASP, pointed out, this day brings the vision of diabetes from the different professional fronts that attend it to see how each one works, what the other needs and what common needs he has.

He also had a space for exchange between professionals and management of the School of Patients as well as professionals of hospitals and primary care, not forgetting those of different specialties linked to different comorbidities.

"This space wants to be a point of help in the search for common aspects from the perspective of the different actors involved in diabetes care, to help improve the patient's health in their globality," said March, who confirmed thatLast year about 5,000 health professionals participated in face -to -face activities organized by this institution.

Challenges in diabetes

Diabetes and comorbidity, being a relevant health problem due to prevalence and impact on health results, which requires a great research effort.In studies related to this disease, the focus focuses on prevention, as well as the transfer of research into clinical practice and the incorporation of technology applied in people with diabetes with efficiency criteria.

Along these lines, María Asunción Martínez, director of the Comprehensive Diabetes Plan of Andalusia (PIDMA), highlighted the need to enhance the research in intervention measures oriented to the prevention of diabetes in high -risk population and clinical research in those whoAspects related to diabetes that have a relevant health impact.

Despite all this, this group of special complex patients pose some important care challenges that range from the prevention of complications associated with diabetes, through the early detection of these, to coordinated and rapid care in situations of special complexity.With regard to prevention, Martínez said, "part of the solution is in the optimization of the control of risk factors and therapeutic education to provide patients with necessary tools for self -care."

Diabetic retinopathy

In the field of early detection, where a diabetic retinopathy slow program has already been successfully implemented, you have to be able to win in efficiency, expanding the profile of the screening professional and enhancing the technological development that expedites management and reading and readingAutomated retinographies, he clarified.

Comorbidity between patients with diabetes represents a national priority that, in the case of Andalusia, materializes in the implementation of the Pidma Plan.Through thisRegional initiative, attached to the IV Andalusian Health Plan and the quality strategy of the Ministry, seeks to reduce the incidence of diabetes in Andalusia and reduce the frequency not known in this community, in addition to reducing the impact on morbidity and mortality and improving the quality ofLife of people with this disease, among many other objectives.

healthy lifestyles

In general terms, according to Martínez, the Plan focuses on the prevention of type 2 diabetes through approach measures of obesity and the promotion of healthy lifestyles;early diagnosis;and therapeutic education adapted to the scope of action in primary and hospital care;In addition to guaranteeing shared care and internive coordination in cases of special complexity.

Specifically, the initiative aims to promote excellence research and guarantee the continuing training of professionals through the design of specific training itineraries, in addition to favoring communication between professionals and these also with citizens.