Reducing Diabetes Risks Through Technology

In the wake of World Diabetes Day, the Mexican Foundation for Health (FUNSALUD) continues to promote the “Salud Móvil” (Mobile Health) project in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and other organizations. This initiative aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile tool to monitor glucose levels, while promoting better lifestyle habits among patients who live with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or who are at risk of developing it. 

Technology can “improve patient follow ups and impact the active search and identification of people who have the disease and those who are at risk,” said Alejandra Almeida, Coordinator, Salud Móvil, to Forbes. 

Globally, 422 million people have diabetes. Most of them are living in low and middle-income countries. About 1.5 million deaths are linked to this disease. In Mexico, over 12 million people are living with diabetes, according to the 2021 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). The annual national death rate linked to Diabetes Mellitus is 361 deaths for each 100,000 inhabitants. In 2021, Diabetes Mellitus was the third cause of death for both men and women, as reported by INEGI. 

The Salud Móvil project was firstly implemented in March 2022 in the Pajapan community in Veracruz. FUNSALUD will use the data obtained at this step to develop strategies for prevention, detection and care for patients.

The lack of access to health services is leading to an increase in cases of Diabetes Mellitus among vulnerable populations, according to FUNSALUD. To face this, Salud Móvil offers access to health professionals. “In the country there is a big problem in accessing healthcare. It is not easy for Mexicans to get to a doctor or to someone who can help them. We are working to close the gap of accessing a health professional and one way to do this is through telemedicine,” said Héctor Valle, President, FUNSALUD

Additionally, Salud Móvil educates patients on the disease and answers questions. Diabetes education has proven to be effective in facing the disease and the risk of developing it.  People who receive diabetes education are more likely to use primary care, take medications as prescribed, control their glucose levels and reduce their health costs, as reported by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).

During World Diabetes Day 2022, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) invited policy makers to increase access to diabetes education under the slogan of “Education to Protect Tomorrow,” as reported by MBN.