| Author (Person) | Smith, Emily |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.6, 16.2.06 |
| Publication Date | 16/02/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Emily Smith Date: 16/02/06 Diabetes, the disease thought to affect more than 22 million Europeans, is under scrutiny from the European Commission and Austrian government at a conference in Vienna this week. The metabolic condition characterised by dangerously high blood sugar levels was singled out by Austria as a health priority for its six-month presidency of the EU this year. Conclusions from the conference on Wednesday and Thursday (15 and 16 February) will be discussed by health ministers in April, and by EU leaders at the June summit meeting. A statement from Austrian health minister Maria Rauch-Kallat said diabetes was "a major public health concern". "There is no doubt that diabetes...is being diagnosed more frequently and earlier in life. It has changed from an old people's disease to a disease afflicting people in the first half of their life." Viktor Joergens, executive director of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), said it was "extremely difficult" to know to what extent rising numbers of diabetes patients represented a real increase, rather than improved diagnostic methods. He added that modern European trends to weigh more, be less active and live longer all supported the theory that diabetes is becoming more common and will continue to do so. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) predicts that by 2025, 10% of Europeans will have diabetes. "As with many predictions this is not really science," said Joergens. "But we can estimate that, with increased age and obesity and decreasing levels of activity, we could face a horrible epidemic in the future." The conference will also look at the role of "preventive efforts" to cut the risk of developing diabetes through changes to diet and lifestyle. The Commission last year launched a three month debate on obesity and related diseases, including diabetes. A debate summary is due in June, and could be followed by EU level legislation. Preview of a two day conference on 15-16 February 2006 in Vienna on the prevention of type 2 diabetes, which was one of the priorities of the Austrian Presidency of the EU in the field of health. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Health |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
