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On this day, endocrinologists, diabetic nurses, patients often come together, share their knowledge and experiences, and express their problems. Unfortunately, only virtual communication will be possible this year, but professionals and the sick hope that their voices will be heard both in society and in government.
The disease is threatening because of its complications.
According to the endocrinologist prof. Over the past 18 years, the number of Birutė Žilaitienė diabetes patients in Lithuania has multiplied by 3 and now reaches 120 thousand. The number of new cases has also increased dramatically, up to 200 percent. According to current trends, by 2045, about 500,000 people in Lithuania will have diabetes. people, of which up to 250 thousand. cases will go undiagnosed, which means that people will not know they are sick.
Diabetes is known to be a heterogeneous disease. It is divided into type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is considered a lifestyle disease and it is the extent of its spread that is reflected in the above statistics. “Not long ago, children also started to develop type 2 diabetes, which is largely considered a lifestyle-related disease,” said the interviewee.
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The incidence of type 1 diabetes is also gradually increasing, only, according to the doctor, much more slowly. Case statistics vary from year to year, making it quite difficult to predict the incidence of type 1 diabetes.
In both cases, diabetes is a lifelong disease whose complications can be extremely painful. Diabetes complications affect large and small blood vessels: eye damage (up to blindness), kidney damage (up to complete failure and hemodialysis), leg artery occlusion and wounded diabetic foot syndrome, increased risk of coronary artery disease and limb amputation. vascular damage, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
According to current trends, by 2045, around 500,000 people in Lithuania will have diabetes. people.
Therefore, diabetes can be a disabling and even fatal disease, but death is not due to high blood sugar, but to organ damage caused by diabetes.
Although it is not possible to completely avoid the complications of diabetes, the speed and severity of their development depend on how well the patient manages the disease. There have been a number of studies showing that diabetes complications progressed more slowly if blood sugar levels were well controlled, and particularly good results were obtained when good glycemic control was established from the onset of the disease. However, a person, without specialists, cannot control the disease: he needs help.
Death is not due to excess sugar in the blood, but to organ damage caused by diabetes.
Patient’s first reactions
For a person, the diagnosis of diabetes means in the first place that from now on it will be impossible to live as before, he will have to learn to control his daily routine, from blood sugar and food on the plate, to work and break.
“The reactions of patients to the diagnosis of an incurable chronic disease, diabetes, are well known by endocrinologists and diabetic nurses, who are the first to introduce the patient to diagnosis, treatment, self-management, dietary restrictions, self-management and frequency.
We often see shock at first, followed by denial without acknowledging the severity of the illness. We have cases in which this stage is prolonged and patients do not receive treatment for some time, do not visit specialists, thus causing significant damage to their health. Patients are often angry about the illness that has befallen them.
Only after a while does the real perception of the situation arrive and most of those who suffer from it make the decision to take good control of their disease and live a full life. It is the duty of both the doctor and the nurse to help the patient begin to control the diabetes as soon as possible. Happy are those teams that contain psychologists who can help in more complex cases ”, B. Žilaitienė mentioned the challenges faced by both the person who heard the diagnosis and the team that works with the patient: doctors and nurses.
Photo by Vida Press / Diabetes
Controlling diabetes is inconceivable without a nurse
According to the interlocutor, the current care for a diabetic is unimaginable without a team that takes care of their health. That team includes an endocrinologist, a diabetic nurse, a psychologist, a nutritionist, a physical therapist, and other professionals. If a patient gets to meet an excellent diabetes nurse, they become the most important life teacher and counselor for a person with diabetes.
Nurses strive to justify this confidence: they constantly improve their grades in training courses, conferences, in which they often participate with doctors, follow scientific news and seek information of interest to them. And today, physicians who care for diabetic patients probably hardly imagine how they would fare without a qualified nurse.
“The management of diabetes is currently understood not only as a good glycemic control and the absence of hypoglycemia, but also as the management of all risk factors for health, especially cardiovascular diseases. The endocrinologist must be able to choose the most appropriate innovative treatment for the patient when deciding on the patient’s treatment. Unfortunately, current rules for reimbursable drugs often do not allow this to be done in a timely manner.
The time of the consultation with the doctor is very limited, after the examination, tests and medication, there is no time to talk with the patient. But it is aimed at nurses, where they can learn the practical aspects of drug use, nutritional peculiarities, the need for self-control, foot care problems, to receive a therapeutic pedicure service ”, explained B.Žilaitienė.
Technology comes to the rescue
The interviewee was pleased that more and more people are realizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and more and more are mastering modern technologies and using them to control diabetes.
“Modern technologies are of great help to doctors and patients. For example, sensors that measure glycemic levels, which are enough to be administered once a week or less; insulin pumps with a consultant who calculates how much insulin to inject afterwards consuming a certain amount of carbohydrates.
Electronic devices are a very attractive way to control diabetes. They are easy to use, they collect a large amount of information about a patient’s disease situation that is readily available. Additionally, that information can be shared with healthcare professionals, and these devices often already have some help built in – counselors and others.
Another advantage is that the application installed on the mobile device helps to quickly assess the variability of blood glucose, the lack of normal blood glucose. Of course, training is needed so that patients understand the functions of the application, understand how it works, but it is possible to master it ”, concluded the interlocutor.
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