Over 600 people are affected by diabetes every year in Elbasan. Doctors note that this disease is spreading rapidly, becoming a serious danger. Worrying according to doctors is the fact that a part of those with diabetes do not know, and this makes both treatment and prevention difficult.

Among the reasons why diabetes is increasing alarmingly is sedentary life and lack of physical activity.

The endocrinologist tells for Euronews Albania that this disease has reached pandemic proportions.

“Diabetes has reached pandemic proportions, it has spread all over the world. In the district of Elbasan, there are over 600 new cases per year. It is estimated that in the 80s there were 20-30 cases, there is a frightening increase. This was shown very well by the pandemic period, when many people discovered that they were suffering from diabetes”, said the Endocrinologist.

But when should a citizen go to the doctor to find out if he is affected by diabetes?

“A citizen over 45 years old should measure the level of sugar in the blood, it is a simple analysis that reveals it. Even people who are under 45 years of age should measure their sugar level once every 3 years, especially when they have a family member with diabetes, have high blood pressure, high fats, women who have given birth to overweight children, all these should be done an analysis”, said Shefqet Deliallisi, endocrinologist.

Doctor Deliallisi emphasizes the importance of catching this disease in time.

“Timely detection is very important because diabetes when detected in time is treated, and delays complications that damage the eyes, the kidneys are subjects that are affected four times more by myocardial infarction”, he added.

As for type 1 diabetes, which mostly affects children, the doctor says that cases are increasing in Elbasan, where there are more than 5 cases every year.