The Ferrol Health Area is participating today in various activities at the Arquitecto Marcide Hospital of the University Hospital Complex of Ferrol to mark World Diabetes Day. One of the highlighted initiatives is from the ANEDIA Association (Association of Girls, Boys, Young People and Adults with Diabetes in Galicia), which has created a collaborative mural three meters wide and two meters high. This mural, under the slogan "Living with diabetes. A circle built together," gathers stories and experiences from the diabetes community in Galicia.
The objective of this project, as explained by the association, is to "show that diabetes care goes far beyond the medical consultation, and that it is built thanks to the joint work of patients, families, healthcare professionals, educational centers, administrations, researchers, social entities, and sports clubs." Professionals from the Health Area have included key phrases in the mural, such as "We are advancing in the Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes" from the Endocrinology Service, or "Educate to care, accompany to live better" from the Nursing department.
Furthermore, at the main entrance of the hospital, the Association of Diabetics of Ferrolterra and the Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry of the Ferrol Campus of the University of A Coruña are conducting blood glucose, blood pressure, and podiatry checks, contributing to the visibility of this condition on its world day.
The Ferrol Health Area also emphasizes diabetes prevention and treatment. Currently, there are approximately 1,200 people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and around 20,000 with type 2, representing 16% of the population and showing an upward trend, particularly in type 2 diabetes linked to obesity. The Endocrinology Service highlights the incorporation of new drugs, the expansion of glycemic monitoring for type 2 diabetes patients on multiple insulin doses, and a strategy for type 1 diabetes prevention through population-wide screenings in conjunction with Pediatrics.
Regarding type 1 diabetes, technology is advancing with the implementation of hybrid insulin pumps, which is changing the treatment paradigm. The Area currently has 150 pumps in use. Endocrinology also emphasizes the addition of a second diabetes educator nurse and the role of healthcare professionals in primary care centers in managing glucose sensors.
