Some 3 million Poles have diabetes and 6 million more are at risk of the disease, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
As the international health community marked World Diabetes Day on November 14, Polish medical professionals were advising the public to check their blood sugar to detect potential problems at an early stage.
Prof. Irina Kowalska, head of the Polish Diabetes Association, emphasised the importance of early detection and treatment to prevent serious complications.
"From the patient’s perspective, complications are the most challenging aspect, as they lower quality of life and lead to significant social costs," she said.
Diabetologist Prof. Grzegorz Dzida from the Medical University of Lublin in eastern Poland warned that while diabetes itself may not cause pain, it silently damages blood vessels.
"Diabetes leads to premature mortality due to heart attacks and strokes," he said. "It also contributes to limb amputations and heart and kidney failure."
He added that "patients sometimes don't realise they have diabetes until they experience complications and seek care from a cardiologist or neurologist."
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves over time.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that around 830 million people worldwide have diabetes, making it one of the leading causes of death, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
World Diabetes Day was established by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, the IAR news agency reported.
(gs)
Source: IAR, who.int