diabetes control and undiagnosed cases in Mexico and Latin America, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): In Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 40 million adults have diabetes, and roughly half of them have not been diagnosed. The prevalence of the disease in the region rose 11.74% between 2011 and 2024, and Mexico is among the countries with the heaviest diabetes burden.
Ahead of World Diabetes Day, which is observed on November 14, experts are warning about one of the region’s main health challenges: getting people diagnosed before complications appear and starting the most appropriate treatment in time. Although type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes and characteristics, recognizing warning signs and acting early can significantly change the course of both.
According to Mexico’s National Health and Nutrition Survey, diabetes prevalence in the country is 17%, equivalent to 14.4 million adults. Nearly 30% of people with elevated blood glucose levels are unaware of their diagnosis.
Although 9 in 10 people with the disease in Mexico receive drug treatment, only 33% of these patients have their condition under control.
During a regional virtual meeting organized by Sanofi, specialists from Argentina, Colombia and Mexico discussed the main challenges Latin America faces in improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. They emphasized the importance of regular medical consultations, since physicians order routine tests that can detect this and other conditions whose early treatment leads to better outcomes.
“Diabetes represents one of the great health challenges in Latin America, especially because many people live with the disease without knowing it. When diagnosis comes late, the risk of complications increases, affecting the heart, kidneys and eyes, among others.
That is why it is essential to promote healthy habits, recognize risk factors and facilitate access to medical checkups that allow timely action,” said Dr. Alejandro Marín, an endocrinologist and diabetes opinion leader in Colombia.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for the vast majority of cases and occurs when the body does not use insulin properly or does not produce enough to keep blood glucose within recommended levels. Excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, family history and age are among its main risk factors.
One of its greatest difficulties, however, is that it can progress for years without obvious symptoms.
In this context, a healthy diet, physical activity and weight control are key tools for preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Blood glucose screening in people with risk factors also makes it possible to identify the condition early, before it causes complications.
Type 1 diabetes: detecting it earlier to change the course of the disease
In type 1 diabetes, scientific advances are transforming how diagnosis is approached. It is an autoimmune disease that gradually destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
It can appear at any age and is not related to diet or physical activity.
Traditionally, the disease is identified when symptoms such as excessive thirst, increased urination and fatigue appear. In some cases, diagnosis only comes after diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially serious acute complication.
Today, however, specific autoantibody tests can identify certain people in presymptomatic stages, even before clinical signs appear. This is especially relevant for people with first-degree relatives who have type 1 diabetes, although most people who develop the disease have no known family history.
Dr. Laura Pomares, a physician in the Endocrinology and Diabetes Service at Hospital Juan Pablo II and medical coordinator of the CEGYM Diabetes Unit in Corrientes, highlighted the importance of early detection in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, each with different strategies.
“For both types, time is a decisive factor, although detection strategies differ. In type 2, we must identify risk factors and promote timely screening.
In type 1, autoantibody evaluation in selected people makes it possible to recognize stages before symptoms appear. What matters is that diagnosis stops being necessarily a late response and becomes, whenever possible, an opportunity to act earlier,” added Dr.
Pomares.
Appropriate treatment is also essential. Insulin, for example, is indispensable for the survival of people with type 1 diabetes and may also be necessary at certain points in the course of type 2 diabetes.
“Since its discovery more than a century ago, insulin has saved millions of lives and remains an essential tool for treating diabetes. Today there are different alternatives, including insulin analogues, and monitoring tools that allow treatments to be tailored to each person.
The challenge is ensuring these advances reach those who need them in time,” said Gisela Ayala, executive director of the Mexican Diabetes Federation.
Ayala noted that treatment must take into account each patient’s clinical characteristics, needs and ability to sustain the prescribed regimen over the long term. The goal is to maintain adequate glucose control, prevent complications and preserve quality of life.
In a region where millions of people still do not know they live with this disease, specialists agreed on the need to expand access to checkups, strengthen timely diagnosis and guarantee appropriate treatment. Detecting the disease early and maintaining medical follow-up are fundamental steps in reducing the risk of complications and improving quality of life.
