Diabetes treatment must be improved according to Geneva study
Published: Monday, Mar 11th 2024, 11:30
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Diabetes is on the rise in Switzerland. However, according to a Geneva study, treatment of the disease leaves a lot to be desired. Only around half of diabetics receive treatment for the disease.
The proportion of people whose blood glucose levels are controlled, i.e. within the norm, is one third (34 percent). "We are a little disappointed because this is quite low," said study leader Pedro Marques-Vidal from the University and University Hospital of Lausanne (Unil/Chuv) on Monday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.
For the study, Marques-Vidal's research group analyzed data from over 12,000 people collected as part of the "Bus Santé" health study in Geneva. They analyzed and compared the development of the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in the periods 2005-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-2019.
The incidence of the disease decreased slightly among the study participants during this period, as the study published in the journal "Scientific Reports" shows. However, the general trend in Switzerland is going in the opposite direction, emphasized Marques-Vidal. People with diabetes are often unwilling to take part in health studies such as the "Bus Santé" study. "Diabetics tend not to accept invitations to be examined by a doctor," explained the expert.
Women are treated less frequently
According to the study, women with diabetes are generally treated less often than men, but have their blood sugar levels under better control. "Once they are treated, women take better care of themselves and adhere better to the treatments," said Marques-Vidal. In obese people, the opposite was found: more treatments, but poorer control of blood sugar levels.
According to the researchers, there is potential for improvement both in the care provided by doctors and in patient compliance with treatment.
According to Marques-Vidal, doctors often lack the time and training to give diabetes diet advice. In addition, according to the expert, some patients play a kind of "cat-and-mouse game": they take their medication shortly before seeing a doctor, but otherwise take it less regularly.
©Keystone/SDA
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