Minister Stresses Importance of Prophylaxis in Fighting Diabetes
An event concluding with a march through the streets of Ljubljana was one in the number of the activities mark this year's World Diabetes Day, which is observed on 14 November. Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovic highlighted the importance of taking care of one's own health.
In her speech on Wednesday Mazej Kukovic said that one had to be strict to himself when it came to eating and drinking. She added that people should fight stress, one of the reasons for diabetes, with love towards fellow humans and faith in life.
The minister also said that the care of diabetes patients in Slovenia was of a good quality, she however believes that more attention should be paid to prophylaxis. Before the today march the visitors had a chance to measure their blood sugar, consult with a doctor or get all the necessary information about diabetes.
The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day, running under the slogan "Join Us in Fighting Diabetes", is diabetes in children and adolescents.
The Union of Diabetes Patients Associations, which associates 17,500 diabetes patients, held a press conference ahead of World Diabetes Day, presenting the activities with which the day is to be marked.
The central ceremony will be staged in the town of Velenje on Saturday, while a week of health will be organised in pharmacies around the country, where people will have a chance to measure their blood pressure, blood sugar and body weight free of charge.
Tadej Battelino of the Pediatric Clinic, who is specialised in diabetes in children and adolescents, pointed out at Tuesday's conference the fact that the number of children diagnosed with diabetes doubled in the last fifteen years.
The number of diabetes patients in Slovenia is increasing, as each year there are about 5,000 new cases of diabetes, according to data from the Chamber of Pharmacists. There are about 160,000 people in Slovenia diagnosed with the disease in Slovenia.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there are about 250 million people suffering from diabetes in the world, which is about 6% of the adult population in the world.
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