Eight of every ten cases of type 2 diabetes are associated with being overweight or obese.

-Nearly 60% of the Spanish adult population is overweight or obesity and the prevalence of diabetes in Spain is situated around 12%, but nearly half are not diagnosed

-poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, causes of diabetes and obesity have acquired characteristics of global epidemic

-75% of diabetics died by vascular processesespecially heart. Globally, diabetes is responsible for 21% of deaths from myocardial infarction and 13 per cent of the caused by cerebrovascular accidents

-diabetic patients are more prone to certain neurological diseases, including diabetic neuropathy and stroke, your risk of a stroke is almost 2 times the from non diabetic

-the Group of Diabetes and The SEMI obesity has developed a national registry of diabetic patients cared for by the services of internal medicine

-of 26 per cent of hospital internal medicine services high Spaniards have a diabetes

Granada, January 2011- diabetes and obesity are two interrelated diseases that have acquired characteristics of global epidemic. So much so that more than 80% of cases of type 2 diabetes is associated with overweight or obesity. Also, almost 60% of the adult population Spanish presents problems of overweight or obesity and the prevalence of diabetes in Spain is situated around 12%, although almost half of cases of diabetes are diagnosed.

The epidemic of obesity and overweight, associated with changes in diet and decreased physical activity, is the main responsible of the marked increase in the prevalence of diabetes which has been observed in the past two decades, both in industrialized and in developing ”, says Dr. Ricardo Gómez strikes, Coordinator of the Group of Diabetes and obesity of the Spanish society of internal medicine (SEMI). In addition, the forecasts of experts for the future are not nothing rosy; the International Diabetes Federation has calculated that 366 million diabetics worldwide will be achieved by the year 2030. This joins, according to the expert, that the population has a high tolerance to problems with body weight, in a way that the majority of people with overweight or obesity light see as healthy ”.

In this context, the SEMI celebrated in Granada between 27 and 29 January the V meeting of Diabetes and obesity of the SEMI, the purposes of updating knowledge in this area to improve care for diabetic patients in a comprehensive manner. The internists are intended to also offer a meeting point where synergies and opportunities for future research in these areas, in an interdisciplinary meeting involving almost 400 specialists among internists, endocrinologists, family doctors and nurses are established.

Diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological disease source

Various studies have shown that diabetic patients have more mortality twice to 15 or 20 years of the diagnosis of the disease than non-diabetics, due mainly to cardiovascular diseases increased. 75% Of the diabetic ”, points out Dr. Gómez strikes, die by processes especially cardiac, vascular. Globally, diabetes is responsible for 21% of deaths from myocardial infarction and 13 per cent of the caused by stroke. Also, it has been estimated that patients with type 2 diabetes have a reduction in life expectancy of about seven years, compared to individuals who do not suffer from ”.

In addition to these risks, the diabetic patients are more prone to certain neurological diseases, including diabetic neuropathy (a lesion of the peripheral nerves caused by the persistent elevation of glucose in the blood, which causes the patients pain and weakness, especially in the legs)(, and predisposes les to the development of ulcers or gangrene feet) and accidents strokes, such as cerebral thrombosis; In addition, the risk of these patients suffer a stroke is almost 2 times the from those not diagnosed. On the other hand, diabetes is also considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia.

The expert stresses that diabetes type 2 is the main cause of blindness in adults, advanced kidney disease and non-traumatic amputation of lower limb. Finally, the type 2 diabetic patients have increased risk of certain types of cancer ”.

The goodness of the Mediterranean diet

In recent years, Spaniards have changed our dietary habits, abandoning the traditional products such as legumes, vegetables, fruit, fish and olive oil, for fast food, pre-cooked and high caloric density foods, rich in sugars and fats of poor quality. In addition, society as a whole has sharply reduced physical activity, both in the workplace as a domestic. These two facts ” said the expert, are the cause of the current pandemic of diabetes and obesity ”.

All this happens despite the fact that, as points out Dr. Gómez strikes, there are numerous epidemiologic evidence showing the goodness of the traditional Mediterranean diet for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer; Therefore, it is not a myth that the Mediterranean diet is a health insurance, the problem is that the Spaniards have abandoned the traditional Mediterranean diet ”.

The State of research in Spain

The research on diabetes has been experiencing a big push in Spain in recent years. Epidemiological studies, including the calculation of the prevalence of diabetes in Spain, which will make it possible to know exactly the number of diabetics that exist in our country and its territorial distribution being developed. Also, various Spanish research groups are collaborating on the development of new drugs that will help to improve the treatment of diabetes.

The Working Group on Diabetes and obesity of the Spanish society of internal medicine is comprised of approximately 200 internists, whose functions include the promotion of research studies. The Group has launched several research projects in diabetes, mainly focused on improving the management of the disease and the treatment of the diabetic patient hospitalized, having developed a national registry of diabetic patients cared for by the services of internal medicine, which will allow to know best how they are and evolve these patients. Also, the internists have collaborated in the elaboration of the main clinical consensus made in Spain, aimed to improve and standardise the assistance to patients with diabetes. Finally, the Group promotes different training activities in this area include the meeting which is now celebrated in Granada.