Undoubtedly, the discovery of insulin in 1921 by scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best was a milestone in the treatment of patients living with diabetes. Every year, on November 14, the birthday of Frederick Banting, World Diabetes Day is celebrated, with the aim of raising awareness about diabetes, an extremely important disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have chosen “Early Action on Diabetes.” The ultimate goal is to convey this simple message across the globe: the sooner we detect diabetes or our risk of developing it, the more we can do to protect our health.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Diabetes in Cyprus by the Numbers
- According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas (11th edition, 2025), in Cyprus:
- Approximately 1 in 9 adults—that is, a population of about 106,000 people (ages 20–79)—live with diabetes.
- More than 1 in 3 (36.6%) have diabetes but remain undiagnosed (approximately 39,000 people).
- Approximately 3,000 people live with type 1 diabetes, of whom about 300 are under the age of 18.
- Mathematical models estimate that the number of adult patients with diabetes is expected to reach 140,000 by 2050.
The above statistics highlight the critical importance of prevention and early diagnosis. For years, diabetes has been a “silent disease,” causing complications or damage to various organs, such as the heart, the brain, blood vessels, eyes, nerves, and kidneys.
What Is Diabetes and What Are Its Types?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of glucose (sugar), resulting from insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or a disruption in insulin function.
- Type 1 diabetes: an autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of pancreatic cells; it most commonly occurs in children and adolescents, though it can also occur, to a lesser extent, in adults of any age. Treatment involves insulin alone.
- Type 2 diabetes (the most common type, accounting for 90% of cases): is caused by a dysfunction in the insulin produced and is closely linked to obesity or being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, age, and a family history of diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes: occurs during pregnancy and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in the mother, as well as complications for the fetus.
- Other types: drug-induced diabetes (e.g., corticosteroids, antipsychotics), pancreatic disorders (e.g., pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatectomy), or rare genetic forms of diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is also recognized as a distinct condition, in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, though it does not yet constitute diabetes. Prediabetes represents a “golden opportunity” for prevention and for halting the progression to diabetes, as well as its related complications.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Diabetes
Most patients with diabetes do not experience any symptoms. However, high blood sugar levels can cause:
- Intense thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weakness/fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent infections (e.g., skin infections) or impaired skin healing
The diagnosis is made using the following tests (with at least two abnormal results):
| Test | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
| Fasting blood sugar (mg/dL) | below 100 | 100–125 | 126 and above |
| Glycated hemoglobin – HbA1c (%) | below 5.7 | 5.7–6.4 | 6.5 and above |
| Blood sugar 2 hours after glucose tolerance test (mg/dL) | below 140 | 140–199 | 200 and above |
High-risk population (who should undergo preventive screening):
- All adults aged 35 and older
- People who are overweight or obese and have one additional risk factor (e.g., a parent or sibling with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, prediabetes, or a sedentary lifestyle).
- People living with HIV, those taking medications that cause hyperglycemia, or those with pancreatic diseases
FIND OUT YOUR RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES (TEST2PREVENT Tool): https://worlddiabetesday.org/type-2-diabetes-risk-assessment/
Modern Diabetes Management: A Patient-Centered Approach
The management of diabetes has changed radically over the past decade. Now, the approach is patient-centered rather than glucose-centered, with the goal of providing holistic protection for the patient and the specific organs that are vulnerable:
- Lifestyle: proper nutrition, smoking cessation, physical activity, and weight loss remain key pillars.
- Innovative medications: Newer classes of medications, such as SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists, offer multifaceted benefits, including glucose control, promoting weight loss, and protecting the heart, kidneys, and liver.
- Insulin: It is the cornerstone of treatment for type 1 diabetes, as well as for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not adequately controlled with oral antidiabetic medications. We now have access to modern, safer, and more flexible-to-use insulins.
- Technology: Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) largely replace the need for multiple fingerstick glucose tests. In addition, hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps (the so-called “artificial pancreas”) automatically adjust insulin delivery in patients with type 1 diabetes, optimizing glycemic control.
Practical Tips – Prevention
- Increase physical activity: 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
- Healthy diet (“Mediterranean diet”): vegetables, legumes, fruits, olive oil, fish, less red and processed meat, and avoid foods with added sugar or soft drinks. Meal portions should include all food groups (half a plate of vegetables, one-quarter protein, one-quarter carbohydrates).
- Get enough sleep and manage stress.
- “Know your numbers”: blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight, and waist circumference.
Type 2 diabetes can largely be prevented or delayed. Studies have shown that losing just 5–10% of body weight, combined with regular exercise, reduces the risk of developing diabetes in people with prediabetes by about 58%.
If you already have diabetes:
- Know your glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and your personal target.
- Get regular checkups for complications (e.g., eye exams, screening for diabetic nephropathy), as well as preventive vaccinations to ward off infections.
- Check your feet daily for sores, blisters, or changes in skin color.
- Learn to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): e.g., sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, confusion. In such cases, consume 15 grams of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates (e.g., half a cup of juice, one teaspoon of sugar in a cup of water, honey, 2–4 glucose tablets, or glucose syrup).
The Diabetes Center of the Department of Internal Medicine at Nicosia General Hospital (OKYPY)
The Department of Internal Medicine at Nicosia General Hospital operates a state-of-the-art Diabetes Center, which conducts approximately 1,700–2,000 patient evaluations annually. It is staffed daily by three physicians with a special interest in diabetes and a specialized diabetes nurse.
Services Offered:
- Diabetes clinic for: prediabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as other types of diabetes.
- Insulin pump clinic, with the ability to remotely monitor patients’ pump data via telemedicine.
- Cardiometabolic Clinic, for the holistic management of patients with diabetes and hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, or diabetes-related complications. This includes, among other things, the ability to perform 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, investigation of resistant or secondary hypertension, as well as genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia. In addition, the clinic is a research member of the international network of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS FHSC).
- Diabetic foot care.
- Education provided by a specialized nurse: self-monitoring of capillary glucose, insulin use and treatment titration, use of newer/innovative injectable therapies, recognition and management of hypoglycemia, use of glucagon, as well as preventive foot care (sensitivity, tightness, ankle-brachial index).
The Diabetes Center collaborates with a multidisciplinary team that includes clinical dietitians, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, neurologists, nephrologists, vascular surgeons, plastic surgeons, and infectious disease specialists, and has received ISO certification in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 15224:2016 quality standards.
Contact:
• Information: 22-603559
• Appointments: 22-603550
• Request an appointment online: https://www.shso.org.cy/clinic/diavitologiko-kentro/
This Year’s Message
Diabetes is a progressive “insidious disease” that doesn’t wait—and neither should we. A simple blood test can change the course of our health. If you’re in a high-risk group, talk to your personal doctor. If you’re already living with diabetes, remember that you’re not alone: with the right information, modern treatment, and cooperation with your doctor, you can live a full and healthy life. Taking action today means more healthy years in the future!
Dr. Andreas Ioannou, MD, MSc, PhD (cand)
Internist,
Head of the Cardiometabolic Clinic
Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Nicosia General Hospital
State Health Services Organization (OKYPY)
