Filenews 10 April 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
In Cyprus we have the negative international first with the highest percentage of diabetics, highlight the representatives of the Pafos Diabetic Association, who refer to alarming trends recorded on issues even more sensitive, such as childhood diabetes, but also on issues of appropriate supplies and equipment for the treatment of the disease.
Especially in the Pafos district, many cases of childhood diabetes are recorded and most complaints are made about shortages of consumables for the disease. The life goal of the members of the Pafos Diabetic Association is to bring the glucose monitoring system to Cyprus with contactless sensors.
"Cyprus records the highest percentage of diabetics in the European Union", says Mr. Ierokipiiotis, president of the Pafos Diabetic Association. "Research shows that 10.4% of the Cypriot population suffers from diabetes, with a steady upward trend, something that should be of concern to all involved.
Diabetes is a chronic, long-lasting condition, which occurs when for unknown reasons the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin. Insulin is a hormone, which is produced exclusively by the pancreas and is necessary for the transport of glucose from the blood to the cells of the body, where it is used for energy. But when insulin is absent, glucose remains in the blood and the sugar rises significantly, resulting in very high blood glucose levels and the person being diagnosed with diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, elevated blood glucose levels are due to the lack of insulin production by the pancreas, which for unknown reasons has been destroyed. In type 2 diabetes there is reduced production of insulin by the pancreas. The disease can affect people of any age, but it usually prefers young children who are more vulnerable. In this case the person needs insulin daily mainly through injections, because without insulin a person with type 1 diabetes will not survive.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and occurs most of the time in adults, but nowadays it unfortunately occurs in greater frequency in adolescents and young children."
"In the Diabetic Association of Pafos, observes its president, we are very much sensitive to young children with diabetes, which unfortunately year after year are increasing alarmingly in the Pafos district. No specialist doctor was able to explain to us why especially in our province we have a comparatively large percentage with children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes," he says. "Increased numbers were of course observed in all cities, even if not as much as in Paphos. That is why we say that the Ministry of Health should start keeping a record and doing relevant studies to find out the causes that trigger these phenomena. I should tell you that as Pafos we led and demanded from the Ministry of Health the introduction in Cyprus of the glucose monitoring system, in the first stage for young children. In fact, on this issue we had a meeting about a year ago at the Presidential Palace and with the President of the Republic and I am sure from the messages I receive that in the next few months our request will be implemented."
The pandemic affected many chronically ill patients, as well as the procedures followed by the state to solve problems that existed before it, admits Matthaios Ierokipioti.
However, the State, he stresses, must also address these people who have had chronic issues, which continue to trouble them and put them in danger and in today's conditions.
"Science is constantly evolving and it is a pity for young children to make so many piercings on their fingers every day at the same time that abroad all other children with diabetes have the contactless glucose measurement sensors", points out the president of the Pafos Diabetic Association. "This system, with the special reading device, allows the measurement of blood glucose levels without piercings in the hands. Through this device, which is an innovative monitoring system with flash technology, a sensor that will pass wirelessly through the child's hand will scan and indicate in a few seconds the percentages of sugar as well as the graph of the price for the entire 24 hours."
This is a great tool for young children, but more so for their parents, he stresses, and in matters of health there should be no discounts. For this reason, he says, we demand that this machine be made available quickly in Cyprus at least for young children with diabetes, since this is the case in Greece.
"With a very small device, there will be no need to have continuous punctures in the hands and in addition parents will feel more secure for their children, since the great risk of hypoglycaemia will be avoided."
Deficiencies in measurement strips
Intact glucose measurement sensors are the one life goal for the Diabetics Association, says its president. The second similar goal, he points out, is to enable people with type 2 diabetes to have access to the latest types of drugs and long-term insulins:
"In general, we want to contribute, as the Pafos Diabetic Association, with our interventions, in order to correct any weaknesses of the GHS, so that as European citizens we can enjoy the same rights and have equal opportunities in our daily lives.
This is because many complaints have reached our Association, for shortages of consumables for diabetes and especially for the measurement films. This fact is something that worries us very strongly, since we should find a way for mainly young patients to get at least five cans of measurement tapes per month and not three."
The parents of these children need to make increased measurements mainly in insulin-dependent children, since they have problems with hypoglycaemia and the issue should be solved immediately, argues Matthaios Ierokipiiotis.
