Access to blood glucose sensors is extremely limited and purchasing them becomes a great challenge for diabetics in Moldova. More than half (57.8%) cover with their own resources the costs of blood glucose sensors brought from outside the country, being taxed at customs. One in two people covers the need for blood glucose tests by purchasing additional tests with their own resources. The findings of the sociological study on the national experience with diabetes were presented at a public discussion on public policies in type 1 diabetes mellitus held at the Parliament, IPN reports.
"It is cheaper to invest in preventive care, in primary and secondary diagnosis than to treat complications. As a country, we cannot afford peritoneal dialysis, urinary transplantation and many things that can increase life expectancy, but we can afford to invest more in prevention, in education, in these elements that are not covered, in blood glucose sensors as priorities. The patient's voice asked us to tell you that access to the sensor is extremely limited for them. It is a great challenge," said the president of the Association of Young People with Diabetes (DIA) Veronica Volcov. She noted that she advocates a national diabetes program, with clear activities and objectives, structured on type 1 and type 2 diabetes subprogram, as well as other forms.
Natalia Porcereanu, head of the Endocrinology Department at the National Clinical Hospital "Timofei Mosneaga", said that although significant progress has been made in Moldova in terms of assisting patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there are several problems that need to be solved in the future. "We are facing an increase in the number of cases of diabetes, when we have an insufficient number of specialists in the field, with limited financial resources. We do not have an electronic register of diabetes cases," she pointed out. Natalia Porcereanu added that currently, there is no possibility of constituting a multidisciplinary team that would provide assistance to patients with diabetes and there is a need for providing more state-of-the-art medical devices and modern technologies.
The doctor stressed that global statistics show a twofold increase in the number of diabetics in Moldova over the past few years, to 131,550 patients with diabetes in 2022. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 7,000 people with type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease when blood glucose levels exceed the norm. The most common test to diagnose diabetes is the control of blood sugar content taken in the morning, without eating. A blood sugar level of less than 5.6 mmol/l is normal. A blood sugar level of 5.6 to 6.9 mmol/l indicates a state of prediabetes. If level detected is 7 mmol/l or higher in two separate tests, the person is considered to have diabetes, said the Ministry of Health.
The public discussions entitled "Participatory updating of public policies in type 1 diabetes" were organized by the Parliament’s commission for social protection, health and family.
