Neglected national disease: every year we lose a small town’s worth of Hungarians to diabetes

The large number of patients and the occurrence of complications represent a significant burden not only for individual patients, but also for the entire Hungarian society and the health care system.

Every tenth Hungarian is affected

Unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and stress seriously contribute to the development of diabetes. Unfortunately, almost half of the patients are undiagnosed and unaware of their condition, while controlling blood sugar levels could significantly reduce the chance of developing serious complications, such as heart disease and kidney problems, which are less talked about. There are more than 1.1 million diagnosed diabetes patients in our country, and the number of undiagnosed cases can be estimated at hundreds of thousands. The proportion of adults with diabetes has tripled in the last 20 years, and if the current trend continues, this proportion may increase further.

What should we pay attention to if diabetes is suspected?

If you are at risk of diabetes – for example, overweight, a sedentary lifestyle or approaching menopause – you should pay attention to the following:

• Consult a diabetologist at least once a year! – While the family doctor provides great help in taking the first steps, once a diagnosis of diabetes has been made, it is critical to visit a specialist.
• Let’s keep an eye on our disease-related results! – Blood sugar level, HbA1c level and blood pressure should also be measured regularly, and the changes should be recorded and monitored.
• In the case of prediabetes, you should also visit your family doctor! – We speak of prediabetes when the blood sugar level is already higher than acceptable, but not yet as high as in the case of the disease, i.e. the value measured on an empty stomach is between 6 and 7.1 mmol/l. This stage often goes unnoticed, but timely intervention can reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The general practitioner and specialist can help reduce the risks and develop a suitable lifestyle.
• Let’s keep an eye on the changes! – If the symptoms do not improve, or if we experience any signs of complications (for example, unusual fatigue, leg swelling, suffocation, vision impairment, or slow healing of wounds), it is worth contacting a specialist as soon as possible. Proactive care is key to avoiding complications.
• Don’t wait for serious complications! – While the first symptoms of diabetes can be easily treated and kept under control, more serious complications can become life-threatening. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, in which the kidneys are damaged and unable to properly filter waste products from the blood. This means a gradual deterioration of kidney function, which can eventually lead to kidney failure, in the most severe stages of which kidney replacement treatment (dialysis or kidney transplantation) may be necessary. Type 2 diabetes increases the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure, especially if other factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or obesity are present. It is therefore particularly important for people living with diabetes to pay attention to their blood sugar and blood pressure levels, as well as their cholesterol levels, in order to minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.