85.000 Cypriots with diabetes in 2013

The prevalence of diabetes in 2013 in Cyprus, according to the International Diabetes Federation, was 9,3%, corresponding to approximately 85.000 patients, while these numbers in 2030 will reach 9,5% and 125.000 patients respectively.

On the occasion of the information campaign on hypoglycemia, carried out by the Diabetology Society, the Cyprus Pathology Society and the Cyprus Endocrinology Society in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company MSD, hypoglycemia is a potentially dangerous condition for the health of the diabetic. In a statement, the Diabetes Society states that the campaign will culminate, during the week of October 20 to 28, in order to prevent it and the timely recognition and treatment of symptoms. At today's press conference, Dr. Marinela Winter, President of the Endocrinological Society of Cyprus, Dr. Andreas Stylianou, President of the Cyprus Diabetology Society and Dr. George Miltiadous, President of the Cyprus Society of Pathology, spoke about diabetes, hypoglycemia and its consequences, as well as ways to prevent and treat it.

Hypoglycemia symptoms and causes

Hypoglycaemia is a condition in which blood glucose (sugar) levels fall below 70 mg / dl with or without symptoms. Glucose levels in people with diabetes can be unpredictable and sometimes very low due to the medication they are taking. As mentioned by Dr. Miltiadous, "it is relatively common for about 30% of young patients with type 1 diabetes to develop hypoglycemia", adding that "hypoglycemia may lead to coma and is responsible for 3-4% of those associated with diabetes deaths ”.

"The clinical features of hypoglycemia are heavy sweating, dizziness, tremor, hunger, extreme weakness and fatigue, confusion and behavioral disorders, and hypoglycemic coma. Hypoglycemia is due to various causes such as overdose of medication, excessive unusual exercise, inadequate intake of carbohydrates with food, alcohol consumption or skipping meals.

"It can also happen due to the coexistence of other pathological conditions such as liver or kidney disease or due to the co-administration of other drugs", he said. For his part, Dr. Stylianou said that "apart from the adverse effects of hypoglycemia on the morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients, its financial cost is equally important", noting that "the family environment, relatives and friends of people with diabetes should be informed and educated so that they recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and treat it properly ”.

"The serious problem of hypoglycemia in diabetics can also be reduced by using newer antidiabetic tablets and insulins that cause less or no hypoglycemia," he said. Stylianou. Speaking about diabetes, Dr. Winter said that "about 31.400 diabetics in our country are undiagnosed and 55.000 people have a disorder in the glucose curve. Also, in 2013 we had 491 deaths due to diabetes in Cyprus ".