World Diabetes Day: Bruges signs charter
It is estimated that one in ten adults has diabetes, a third of whom are not even aware of it. However, the condition is becoming more common. The number of people in West Flanders taking diabetes medication has increased from 51 to 61 in 1000 in 10 years. That is about 120,000 inhabitants.
The city of Bruges wants to make its residents aware of this by means of the courtesy day and the screening. “At the moment there are 12,000 inhabitants of Bruges who have diabetes. But the risk factor is much greater. At least twice as many inhabitants of Bruges are at risk of developing diabetes in life. We must therefore give a clear signal,” says Pieter Marechal, Alderman of well-being Bruges.
Preparations for that screening will start today together with the primary care zone. The risk groups are then traced through care and aid providers, service centers and health insurance companies.