Efficient onset of treatment could reduce costs linked with diabetes
New recommendation emphasises efficient treatment of early stages of disease
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Faster diagnosis and more efficient treatment would slow down the explosive expansion of diabetes. The risk of other diseases sparked by diabetes declines, the earlier a diabetic gets into the right kind of treatment.
This is the latest recommendation issued by a working group set up by the Duodecim medical association and the doctors' council of the Finnish Diabetes Association. The recommendation is aimed at both type one and type two adult onset diabetes.
More than half a million Finns suffer from diabetes, and this is expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years.
The costs of treating diabetes are currently about 15 per cent of Finnish health care costs, and in 2015 it will probably reach about 25 per cent. About two thirds of the sum comes from related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney and eye diseases, and problems with the legs. Their risk is significantly diminished if the treatment is sufficiently effective in the early stages.
One of the members of the working group, Antti Virkamäki, sees rapid intervention in the disease to be an investment.
"Greater efficiency of treatment will cost slightly more, but if we don't get started now, we will pay a much greater price later."
Starting the treatment is slowed down by the fact that only about half of all diabetics know that they are ill. Especially type 2 diabetes is often found by coincidence.
Diagnosis is made difficult by the fact that the disease does not have any clear symptoms. The best way to assess the danger of becoming ill is a risk test for diabetes, whose results tell whether or not it would be a good idea to go into further testing. Risk factors for the onset of type 2 diabetes include heredity, waistline obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and improper dietary habits.
The new recommendation emphasises the versatile nature of the disease. Traditionally diabetes has been divided into types one and two on the basis of the assumed nature of how it began. However, many patients exhibit characteristics of both types.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 15.6.2007 - TODAY |
 Efficient onset of treatment could reduce costs linked with diabetes |
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