On November 14, which is United Nations Diabetes Day, Professor Zou Dajin from Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine pointed out that the concurrent occurrence of diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease has become more common in clinical practice. Diabetic patients should not only pay attention to blood sugar changes but also heart-kidney comorbidity. The theme of this year’s Diabetes Day is “Diabetes and Happiness”, emphasizing a shift from “blood sugar-centered” to “patient-centered” comprehensive management, protecting target organs like the heart and kidney while controlling blood sugar to improve prognosis.
After being diagnosed with diabetes, patients should control blood sugar within the normal range within a year and maintain it. Diabetes has an adverse metabolic memory effect. Poor control of high blood sugar in the early stage affects the prevention of vascular diseases later. Diabetic patients have a heavy disease burden and poor prognosis due to insufficient awareness of the damage to target organs, weak awareness of early screening for heart and kidney complications, and the need to strengthen active management awareness.
Most diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes. More than one-third of them have cardiovascular disease, and the cardiovascular disease caused by diabetes is more severe and difficult to treat. Hypertension and dyslipidemia are high-risk factors. The prevalence of dyslipidemia in diabetic patients is higher than that in the non-diabetic population and is a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. About one-third of diabetic patients have kidney disease, and diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The awareness rate of diabetic nephropathy in China needs to be improved. For early screening, it is recommended to assess cardiovascular risk factors annually and conduct relevant tests at least once a year. With the development of diabetes treatment, patients have more options and many innovative treatments are included in medical insurance, which helps control blood sugar while considering the benefits of the heart and kidney.
Shanghai is preparing a diabetes prevention and control implementation plan to improve the prevention and control system through multi-department cooperation, increasing the awareness, treatment and control rates of diabetes and reducing the early death rate. Previously, the National Health Commission and other departments jointly issued a relevant plan (2024 – 2030). On the 14th, the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission held a municipal theme promotion activity in Putuo District’s Banma Suhe Park. Endocrinology experts from multiple medical institutions provided free consultations and free testing services. The commission also advocated the public to practice the concept of “being the first responsible person for one’s own health”, develop a healthy lifestyle, actively participate in community diabetes risk assessment and screening for early detection and treatment. Good self-management can delay or reduce the occurrence of complications.
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