The 2019 LATAM Diabetes management workshop
Satellite symposium during the ALAD Congress
Diabetes ranks among the top ten causes of death worldwide, responsible for 5 million deaths in 2010 according to International Diabetes Foundation estimates. Countries witnessing a rapid transition from low- to middle- to high-income status are those at highest risk of being overwhelmed by the diabetes pandemic.
As well as these recognized numbers, there are also a huge proportion of subjects with undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes. More than 300 million people worldwide are affected by pre-diabetes, a condition characterized by impaired fasting blood glucose levels or by impaired glucose tolerance.
Pre-diabetes significantly increases the life-time risk of developing type 2 diabetes and is associated with early endothelial dysfunction predisposing to early cardiovascular events. Both insulin resistance and β‑cell dysfunction occur early in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and people with undiagnosed and untreated pre-diabetes and overt diabetes mellitus are at a greater risk of complications than those who are receiving treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of impairments in glucose metabolism are crucial to halt this devastating disease.
To achieve this, a multi-level intervention is needed, from wider dissemination of the current International guideline recommendations for screening for diabetes, through appropriate lifestyle and diet recommendations, which are the mainstay of type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment, and encompassing pharmacological intervention.
Life-style and dietary recommendations are well established, and there are increasing publications in the literature on the use of glucose-lowering agents for those with pre-diabetes to prevent the progression to overt type 2 diabetes. Interpretation and critical assessment of these studies is needed for their correct implementation in to daily clinical practice – aided and supported by this continuous medical education activity.
