Download No Slide Title

Prevention of complications:
Do not not lose sight of the risks
Philippe Halban
President, European Association for the Study of Diabetes
www.easd.org
[email protected]
What are the major complications of diabetes?
Cardiovascular
Kidney (nephropathy)
Retina (retinopathy)
Nerves (neuropathy)
Concern both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Cause great suffering (pain and quality of life)
Premature death
High costs to society
Can diabetes be prevented?
Focus on Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes
Getting the balance right:
genes
lifestyle
Genes cannot change in a generation; lifestyle can!
The risk factors: genes and lifestyle
“good” genes
healthy diet
exercise
no diabetes
diabetes
“diabetes” genes
unhealthy diet
sedentary lifestyle
Strategies for prevention of Type 2 diabetes
and its complications
TODAY
Screen population for early detection of those at
highest risk (impaired glucose tolerance)
TREAT
SYMPTOMS
+
EDUCATE and SUPPORT
Modify lifestyle:
Light exercise
Less fat - fewer calories
Decrease risk of developing complications/delay onset
(diabetes prevention studies in US and Europe show that this can work)
BUT
This is not a cure and does not prevent all complications
and
Major problem of compliance
Strategies for prevention of Type 2 diabetes
and its complications
THE FUTURE
GENETIC SCREENING
High risk population
gene therapy
modify
lifestyle
medication
PREVENTION AND CURE
What patients with diabetes need and deserve
Increased political and public awareness of
the magnitude and severity of diabetes
Increased focus on health education for improved lifestyle
Increased spending on diabetes research in Europe