It is estimated that between 500,000 and 1 million Poles are not aware that they have type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, those who already know the diagnosis, and there are around 3 million of them, do not always know how to be treated and deal with the disease. We talk to Anna Śliwińska, President of the Polish Diabetes Association, about the need for diabetes education in society and the re-education of people who have lived with the disease for many years.
I have this habit: when I meet friends who suffer from diabetes and have a glucose meter with them, I check my blood sugar level. This happens 2-3 times a year. That's good?
Anna Śliwińska (AŚ):Very good! Diabetes prevention guidelines recommend measuring glucose levels in people under 45 - once every 3 years, and in people over 45 - once every 2 years. In turn, if someone from the immediate family is ill or has had diabetes, the test should be carried out once a year. Congratulations on your he alth awareness! We would be glad if everyone had one. And please imagine that there are perhaps even nearly 1 million people among us who do not know that they have diabetes.
I understand that they do not test themselves. But why?
AŚ:Because they don't know they should. Because they delude themselves that if they don't get the diagnosis, they won't be sick. But they also don't "feel" a reason to get tested. For while type 1 diabetes gives very specific symptoms, type 2 diabetes may cause symptoms such as excessive sleepiness, weakness, weight fluctuations, urinary tract infections, which can be associated with many other diseases. Diabetes mellitus "2" may also be asymptomatic in the first phase. Or they are so light you get used to them. So we usually find out that we have diabetes during diagnostic tests for another disease.
How would you persuade those lazy to perform a simple, painless sugar level test?
AŚ:I don't hesitate to scare you! If you live for years with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, you will learn about it under very “unpleasant” circumstances, such as when you have a heart attack or stroke. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is only when cardiovascular complications are threatening that the patient learns that it is due to diabetes, which he had no idea about, because he did nothad the knowledge or the desire to check his blood glucose from time to time. That is why social education about diabetes and its complications is so important.
And if I already know I have diabetes. I was at the doctor's, I got medications and recommendations. What next?
AŚ:Diabetes is largely decided by the patient himself. The most important is the so-called glycemic control. You need to be aware that all your daily activities have some effect on your blood sugar levels. Not only what and how much he will eat, but also whether he will move, when and how intensely, how will he react to stress, or how will he relax. Once again I will say, unfortunately - many diabetics ignore diabetes. They naively believe that when, for example, they stop sweetening their tea, it is enough to have diabetes under control, but unfortunately it is definitely not enough.
Where can I find out how to live with diabetes?
AŚ:Well, we don't have a formal diabetes education system. Diabetologists do not always have time to conduct one, and when they talk longer with the patient, they often use too difficult language. A full-time diabetes educator is needed to support doctors and nurses, but not yet available. Fortunately, there are patient organizations, such as the Polish Diabetes Association, whose main statutory goal is education. We operate throughout the country through branches and local circles, of which we have over 360. People with diabetes do not have to look far for us.
How do you educate patients with diabetes?
AŚ:We organize more or less formal meetings of patients with diabetologists, nurses, dieticians, psychologists, physiotherapists - in the form of talks, and scientific conferences. The patient's contact with specialists and the possibility of a quick consultation are very important at all stages of life. Because people living with diabetes for many years should constantly gain knowledge and follow the latest achievements in the field of diabetes therapy - are there any new recommendations, treatment methods, etc. In addition, the Association also publishes brochures on various aspects of the life of people with diabetes and the journal "Bulletin Informative Diabetes ”. PSD is also one of the partners of the nationwide educational campaign, which you can read about at www.dluzszezyciezcukrzyca.pl.
Do you know that…Not only young people are looking for information on mojacukrzyca.org
Jerzy Magierawas 15 years old when in 2001. founded the so-called a private website called mojacukrzyca.org. He had been suffering from type 1 diabetes for 6 years. Wanted to share withother diabetic teenagers with their daily experiences. Currently, mojacukrzyca.org is the largest, non-commercial educational website devoted to diabetes and all aspects of living with this disease, including treatment, devices for glycemic control and insulin therapy, nutrition, physical activity, etc. Every day mojacukrzyca.org portal is visited by approximately 1,500 people. Its greatest strength is the discussion forum where, for 17 years, diabetics have published over 313,000 posts in over 10,000 topics. Thanks to the mojacukrzyca.org portal, diabetics do not feel lonely. It's a place where they feel safe and emotionally supported. -Mojacukrzyca.org developed along with modern technologies. Today we also have a fanpage and a discussion group on FB, which brings together about 15,000 people, aged 24 to 54, although they are also older. Interestingly, the portal's users account for 75 percent. women- says Jerzy Magiera, who manages the portal. The portal is also active in other social media - support is available on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Mojacukrzyca.org is, like the Polish Diabetes Association, one of the partners of the nationwide educational campaign "Longer Life with Diabetes".
The articlewas created as part of thenationwide educational campaignj en titled"Living longer with diabetes" , which aims to raisediabetes awareness- including type 2 diabetes and the risks associated with this disease, with particular emphasis on taking into accountcardiovascular complications . The campaign is organized by Boehringer Ingelheim, and the partners are: Association Active with Diabetes, Polish Diabetes Association and the mojacukrzyca.org portal.
