10.5% of the adult population (20-79 years) approximately 537 million has diabetes, with almost half unaware that they are living with the condition. By 2045, IDF (International Diabetes Federation) projections show that 1 in 8 adults, approximately 783 million, will be living with diabetes, an increase of 46%.
People living with diabetes have an increased risk of developing diabetes complications. The most common are those that affect the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, teeth and gums.
Over 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is driven by socio-economic, demographic, environmental, and genetic factors. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic complex disease and management requires multifactorial behavioural and pharmacological treatments to prevent or delay complications and maintain quality of life.
Fundamental aspects of diabetes care include promoting healthy behaviours, through medical nutrition therapy (MNT), physical activity and psychological support, as well as weight management and tobacco/substance abuse counselling as needed.
Recent studies examining the benefits of physical activity on blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes show that, although any form of exercise is beneficial, specific activities and their timing can significantly enhance the patients’ health. For a patient, deciding which is the most effective exercise can be overwhelming. The best solution is to choose one that works best for him. This may depend on factors such as patients’ current fitness level, preferences, and any other health conditions he may have.
Nutrition therapy is integral to diabetes management, with goals of promoting and supporting healthy eating patterns, addressing individual nutrition needs, maintaining the pleasure of eating, and providing the person with diabetes with the tools for developing healthy eating. A registered dietitian/nutritionist, through counselling and a healthy diet plan, can significantly reduce HbA1c, and can help prevent, delay, and treat comorbidities related to diabetes.
Most diabetes management takes place within the home environment. Family members can actively encourage, support, and assist the family member with diabetes. They can provide active support, such as accompany the person with diabetes to healthcare appointments offer emotional support in helping patients cope with their disease. The family can even influence a person’s decision to follow recommendations for medical treatment, or a change in lifestyle behaviours such as diet and exercise.
Over time, a healthy lifestyle may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels under control, and people with type 2 diabetes may need oral medication. If treatment with a single medication is insufficient, combination therapy options may be prescribed.
At MEDOCHEMIE patient is at the core of everything we do, and we want to make a difference in people’s lives. We are committed to provide quality and affordable treatment options for people living with diabetes. We strive to ensure that every product, meets the patients’ expectations for quality, safety, and efficacy to positively impact the health of the patients.
As a leading pharmaceutical company in Cyprus, we feel that it is our responsibility to provide to the Cyprus doctors the latest and updated medical information concerning diabetes. Through our Continues Medical Education program we offer to the doctors the opportunity to participate in lectures with unbiased purely educational content from distinguished professors about diabetes.
At MEDOCHEMIE our strength lies in our team of people and the 2000 employees is what makes up the heart of our company. MEDOCHEMIES wellbeing program offer to the employees the opportunity, through a series of counselling with registered dietitians/nutritionists, to develop a healthy eating habit. This program also offers to employees the opportunity to improve their physical activity through subscriptions to a gym centre.
Constantinos Koudounas
Business Unit Manager
Cyprus Market