It’s type 2 diabetes prevention week. The opportunity to take stock of the presence of this disease in Alsace because Alsace is far from being spared. 50,000 people don’t even know they have it. “It’s a totally sneaky disease, we don’t have any particular sign that tells you that you are diabetic.“, insists Professor Michel Pinget, president of the European Center for the Study of Diabetes in Strasbourg.
It finds “progress all over the world“, “a pandemic“The prevalence of diabetes is greater or lesser depending on the region, but it is very high in the north-east of France.”We even find this difference at the level of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, where there are very affected districts in Schiltigheim, Bischheim, Hoenheim“. There is even “a difference which goes from 1 to 10” with the municipalities of Blaesheim, Eckwersheim, Geispolsheim.
Screening from age 35
Screening is very important because there are no obvious symptoms of diabetes. “The only symptom that should alert us is that we are getting older and we know that diabetes, a disease that progresses with age“, warns Michel Pinget, who recommends screening from the age of 35.
Genetics has an impact on the development of diabetes. But they are mainly “behavioral factors“that matter: physical activity, diet.”The medications are there but it takes an effort to modify lifestyle. Otherwise, we can’t do it and it’s not the doctor who will decide, it’s the subject himself who will decide what he wants to do.“
It is not yet possible to cure diabetes, but it is possible to live better while being sick. “We are already managing to improve the mental burden of the disease. And that is already a huge step that has been taken in acceptance and in the result.” explains Professor Pinget who hopes that transplants will allow type 1 diabetics to no longer need treatment in the coming years.
