Diabetes - The Silent Pandemic

1 in 10 Romanians suffers from diabetes, while 1 in 3 has prediabetes. Only half of those who know that have diabetes are being treated, while 7 out of 10 Romanians diagnosed first came to the doctor in advanced stages of the disease with complications already installed. Annually, half of the people with diabetes are hospitalized due to complications. Also, prediabetes is growing, is neglected and the diagnosis comes late.

The objective of the case study is to create awareness and promote policy on diabetes prevention — a legislative framework for diabetes prevention and early diagnosis. The presentation will be concentrated on what has been done since January 2019, including such actions as:

• Awareness campaign in support of the Diabetes Prevention Law through, all along its preparation stages: official website www.forumdiabet.ro;
• I WISH — I DO awareness campaign;
• Workshops on diabetes specially developed for journalists;
• National perception study regarding diabetes;
• A 2-month diabetes awareness campaign on social media, to target the general population. Tagline: you don’t play with diabetes. Call to action: enter www.nutejoci.ro, complete the test and find out if you are at risk of diabetes.

Laura Florea Managing Partner at Point Public Affairs