CAMPAIGN FOR THE EARLY SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES IN CATALONIA (SPAIN).

M. Marin, B. Amillategui, R. Arana;
Fundacion para la Diabetes, Madrid, Spain.
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Background and Aims: Catalonia has 6,500,000 inhabitants and the estimated number of people with undiagnosed diabetes is 130,000.

Therefore, there is a need for screening the disease, since at the diagnosis many patients present diabetic complications, as the UKPDS and other studies have found out. There are several risk factors that increase the possibilities of suffering from diabetes: family history of diabetes, age over 45 years old, overweight, hypertension, hyperlipemia, gestational diabetes, children over 4 kg at birth.

“Fundación para la Diabetes”, a non profit organization, aimed to:

Materials and Methods: The initiative to organize the campaign was welcomed by the Advisory Committee on Diabetes in Catalonia, department of Health and Social Security, which facilitated the collaboration of scientific, health professional, pharmacists associations as well as people with diabetes organizations. Posters and leaflets were distributed to primary health care centers and chemists´ shops providing information about the above reported risk factors and the possibility of performing a free of charge capillary glycaemia test at the pharmacies. When the blood glucose level was over 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l), or 110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l) in the fasting state, the person was referred to his/her general practitioner for further assessment.

Results: The campaign took place in May and June 2001 with the collaboration of Catalonian Diabetes Society, primary care society (SCMFiC), people with diabetes organization (ADC) and the pharmacists associations.

1,518 pharmacies, a 62.78 % of the total number in Catalonia, consented to participate in the campaign. 24,880 tests were performed throughout the two-month period. 5,802 (23.3 % of the samples) presented high glucose levels, so that these people were recommended to attend to their general practitioner, in accordance with the protocol.

The campaign was endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Security from the Autonomous Government of Catalonia.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of people at risk of developing diabetes have been screened in only two months. In a high-risk population, 23.3 % of the subjects presented an increase of their glucose, although they needed further evaluation for diagnosis.

The collaboration between scientific and professionals´ associations, pharmacies, and other diabetes organization contribute to the awareness and early diagnosis of diabetes.