The ‘Pronto Diabetes’ campaign is launched, a toll-free number for free consultations

Launch of the new ‘Pronto Diabete’ campaign aimed at people with type 2 diabetes. An initiative that aims to strengthen the collaboration between diabetologists and local medicine, creating an opportunity for comparison and synergy between general practitioners and specialists, and at the same time to encourage patients to periodic visits to keep the disease and its complications under control. During the campaign, people with diabetes who have not had contact with a specialist for more than a year and who do not have a specialist visit scheduled over the next 6-12 months, will be able to book a free specialist consultation with a diabetologist in the months of June and July, at the clinics of general practitioners, by calling the toll-free number 800 042747 or by proactive screening of general practitioners who will be able to identify among their patients those who fall within the cases described and enroll them for diabetic counseling. The initiative has obtained the patronage throughout the national territory by the Italian Society of Diabetology (Sid), the Association of Diabetic Doctors (Amd) and the Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care (Simg), with the adhesion of Diabetes Italia Onlus and in partnership with AstraZeneca. In the world – a note recalls – there are about 425 million people living with diabetes and, in our country alone, it is estimated that there are almost 4 million diagnosed patients plus an undeclared one and a half million people. For a correct management of the disease it is necessary to implement a therapeutic strategy updated by periodic checks but it is not easy to involve such a large number of patients. “The campaign intends to favor the experiential exchange between diabetologists and general practitioners aimed at a more effective and efficient management of the chronicity of diabetes: during this initiative, both clinical figures will be able to better share the patient’s diagnostic-therapeutic framework” , explains Agostino Consoli, president-elect Sid. “Making the management of the disease optimal means extending to all patients the recent techniques of education and empowerment, the most sensitive and appropriate methods for the screening of complications, the pharmacological therapies available that allow on the one hand to safely achieve metabolic control. optimal and on the other hand serve as a safeguard for the prevention of cardiac, vascular and renal complications: a process that requires an integrated management of the patient based on an effective and efficient interconnection between the diabetic specialist and the general practitioner “.” Only through synergistic management between specialist and general practitioner it is possible to find the right synthesis, useful for improving the standard of care, our final goal, which focuses on the patient’s well-being “, underlines Paolo Di Bartolo, president of Amd.” If the general practitioner is the ‘principal custodian’ of the health of the assisted or, the diabetologist can and must play an essential role in the treatment of the most complex patients: this virtuous circle can only be fully implemented by fully sharing educational strategies and therapies “. The campaign – underlines the note – also intends to raise public awareness on the current approach in the management of diabetic chronicity that has moved from the treatment of the full-blown disease to the prevention of complications in all those patients who have risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, obesity. Medical supervision can therefore help people with diabetes to be proactive, not only in trying to improve their glycemic compensation but also in constantly remaining engaged in the appropriate management of diabetes. “The prevention activity is the heart of general medicine and that is why we wanted to offer these consultations within the structures of general practitioners. The attending physician can first of all make a fundamental contribution in identifying patients in need of specialist advice “, declares Gerardo Medea, national manager of the metabolic area of ​​Simg.” Integrated management and care of the chronic patient with type 2 diabetes – continues Gerardo Medea – can allow the mutual consolidation of experience and skills among doctors and promote a more effective prescribing autonomy, for example, of innovative hypoglycemic drugs useful for precocious patients or patients at risk of cardiovascular or renal complications. “” People with diabetes today like yesterday, due to the chronic nature of the disease, they require continuous assistance and during the pandemic this need has increased as well as the proximity of treatments has become even more fundamental ”, underlines Rita Lidia Stara, Diabetes Association Italy. “We are happy to support this initiative that puts diabetes back at the center of attention and has a very important social value, thanks to the precious collaboration between specialists and general medicine, in favor of the most fragile patients”. consultations – it is finally specified in the note – will be at the discretion of the specialists of the participating centers, also on the basis of their experience and evaluation and the specific characteristics of the patients. The use of the consultations does not imply priority for the booking of diabetic visits or subsequent diagnostic services, which must then be booked in the manner prescribed by the local health authorities and will not interfere with relations with the patient’s usual reference diabetes center. More information on www.prontoDiabete.it