Diabetes accounts for between 15 and 20 per cent of total expenditure on health of Spain.

-diabetes represents between 15 and 20 per cent of total expenditure on health from Spain, or what is the same, between 10 and 15 billion euros a year, according to data from the national system of health Spain

– in our country, average health expenditure per person with diabetes a year is around 3,000 €, double that of the general population

– per euro investment in prevention programmes that promote the autonomy of the person with diabetes would save more than 20 euros of which results in a poorly controlled diabetes. Prevention is the largest investment, particularly important in the current context of economic crisis

-proper management of test strips could reduce the cost in cases of combine and serious hiperglucemias between 1,500 and 10,000 € per person hospitalized

Madrid, 2011-October have to promote the creation of prevention programmes to promote greater autonomy to the person with diabetes to make decisions on the control of their disease. Addition, it is important to test strips management adapted to the needs of each patient. This is why, if restricted test strips for the measurement of blood glucose, in the end the cost will be higher due to the complications caused by poorly controlled diabetes. This is especially important in the current framework ”, according to Dr. Sonia Gaztambide, President of the Spanish society of Diabetes (thirst).

The recent prevalence of diabetes in Spain data from the conclusive results of study di@bet.es that were introduced in the last Congress of the SED, have revealed that diabetes affects 13.8% of the adult population, of which 6% desconocerían their situation (with preliminary data for October 2010 which pointed to a 12% prevalence of the) (adult population with 4% of unknown diabetes). Therefore, the latest data on diabetes in Spain reveal that we are in line with the increase in the prevalence of diabetes worldwide.

On the other hand, almost all studies have estimated that health spending induced by diabetes multiplies by 2 times to the general population, this is why the cost for every person with diabetes would be, at least, surrounding the annual € 3,000. This would represent between 15 and 20 per cent of total expenditure on health Spain.

These data, which are quite revealing support the importance of developing effective and efficient strategies. As among others the establishment of preventive programmes aimed at the person with diabetes and healthcare professionals to reduce the high human and material costs leads to diabetes. With greater control of the diabetes patient could prevent up to 40% of the complications arising from diabetes such as retinopathy, nephropathy and diabetic foot, along with other lesser-known as neuropathy and impotence in males, periodontal disease and the marcadísima influence on stroke and myocardial infarctions.

Therefore it is important to test strips and new therapeutic weapons management adapted to the needs of each patient. This is why, if restricted test strips for the measurement of glucose in blood at the end the cost will be higher due to the complications caused by poorly controlled diabetes. The proper use of the test strips could prevent acute complications (combine and serious hiperglucemias) and his hospitalization by reducing the cost per patient from 1,500 € for complications requiring outpatient or emergency up to € 10,000 for every person hospitalized. This is revealed as a particularly important figure in the current context of economic crisis.

According to the International Diabetes Federation IDF, every 7 seconds someone dies from diabetes in the world. Among them, as a result of an increase in exposure to common factors of risk for noncommunicable diseases (ENTs) such as an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, the consumption of tobacco and the harmful use of alcohol.

According to Dr. Bernat Soria, President of the foundation of the Spanish society of Diabetes F-SED and former Minister of health: in Spain, one of every three deaths by myocardial infarction or cardiovascular accident occurs in people with diabetes. Diabetes as a cause in any death certificate is not included but is the most important cardiovascular risk factor ”

the UN Summit on ENTs held last month in New York where discussed current issues related to the situation of the chronic diseases include diabetes has ended with the creation of a new report about the situation of the ENTs. This noted especially that each country has to do to decrease the exposure of individuals to the risk factors and improve services to prevent and treat the ENTs. As well as details of the proportion of deaths that are caused by the ENTs in each country

According to the latest figures on diabetes in the world of the IDF there are 336 million people with diabetes, these 4.6 million died and that the overall cost will be 465 billions of dollars. The previous figure of 2009 had accounted for 285 million people with diabetes. The epidemic is growing exponentially.