Diabetes affects 4 million people in Italy, 2 out of 3 are over 65 years old

Elderly, male and resident in the south have a higher risk of developing the disease

ROME – In Italy, according to Istat, there are approximately 3.9 million people who declared they have diabetes in 2022, or 6.6% of the population, and the projections indicate that in 2040 this percentage could reach 10% if the observed trend continued combined with the significant impact of the demographic dynamics of the next 20 years.
The numbers from the National Institute of Statistics are contained in the Italian Barometer Diabetes Report ‘Data on diabetes in Italy, a snapshot of a complex and constantly evolving pandemic’, presented during the 17th Italian Barometer Diabetes Summit 2024.
Produced on the initiative of the senator Daniela Sbrollini, in collaboration with Parliamentary Intergroup on obesity, diabetes and chronic non-communicable diseases, Italian Barometer Diabetes Observatory Foundation (IBDO Foundation), Istat, University of Rome Tor Vergata-Systems Medicine Department , Coresearch, Crea Sanità and Bhave and with the unconditional contribution of Novo Nordisk, the event sees the participation of institutions, scientific societies and experts to take stock of the economic, social, clinical and political significance of diabetes for implement health policies on diabetes in our country.
“Diabetes – we read in the preface of the Report by Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci – represents one of the most relevant challenges of our time, as it is a pathology that continues to record constant growth in all states, especially in low- and medium-income ones. In this context, the Diabetes Barometer Report confirms itself as an important tool for the evaluation and monitoring of the trend of type 2 diabetes in Italy, providing precious data to guide our policies and future actions in the fight to diabetes”.
According to the latest analyses, moreover, the socio-demographic factors that increase the risk of developing diabetes are advanced age, even by almost 8 times among those over 74 (compared to 45- 54 years old), the male sex, so much so that men have a greater risk than women of around 40% at the same age, living in the south, with a higher probability of around 50% compared to those living in the north and in municipalities with more than 2000 inhabitants.
As regards, however, the socio-economic aspects, the risk almost doubles among people who at most have a lower middle school qualification compared to those who have of at least a degree. It increases by approximately 30% among those who judge their family’s economic resources to be poor or insufficient compared to those who enjoy excellent or adequate economic resources.
Finally, the strong association emerges with obesity, which increases the risk of diabetes by more than double all other factors considered being equal, while a sedentary lifestyle increases this risk by approximately 30%.
The continuous aging of the population leads to increase in diseases that are frequent in the life stages of the elderly, such as cardio-metabolic ones, often a consequence of energy imbalances due to excessive nutrition associated with a sedentary lifestyle and which combined with genetic, behavioral, social and environmental characteristics lead to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with consequent worsening of the quality of life.
“The co-presence of other chronic diseases, which affects more than three out of four diabetics – explains in the introduction of the IBDO Report – the president of Istat, Francesco Maria Chelli – constitutes another important factor to consider in the care of patients and in the organization of health services that must respond to the healthcare needs of these people. The Report underlines how living with other diseases, in addition to diabetes, has significant consequences on the quality of life of patients and their families“.
“In 2022 – underlines Roberta Crialesi, manager of the Integrated Health, Assistance, Welfare and Justice System of Istat – the number of multichronic elderly people with diabetes who expressed a high rating of satisfaction with their lives was 5 percentage points lower than those without diabetes (33.6% versus 38.4%) and by well over 9 percentage points compared to the general average figure (42.8%). Even if the lower satisfaction of elderly people with diabetes is common to all areas of the country, a clear gap was found between residents in the South and those in the North, so much so that only 26.4% of multichronic elderly people with diabetes residing in south and 28.5% residing in the islands express a high satisfaction with life overall compared to 41.1% residing in the north-west and 44.7% residing in the north-east with the same problems “.
“Chronic diseases such as diabetes – comments the president of the Italian Barometer Diabetes Observatory Foundation, Paolo Sbraccia – have consequences not only on health conditions, but also on other areas of life daily, on social, economic and relational aspects of individuals. In fact, as Istat data show, levels of satisfaction with the quality of life are strongly influenced by the presence of diabetes, especially when combined with other chronic diseases”.
“The IBDO Foundation – he adds – has always promoted the collection and sharing of important information on the extent of the burden represented by diabetes, fundamental to demonstrate the impact of different efforts and approaches aimed at reducing the incidence of diabetes, early diagnosis of the disease and to its effective treatment and thus contribute to the search for solutions to slow down the progression of the incidence of this disease which, over the course of two decades, has tripled“.
“Of the almost 4 million people with diabetes– highlights Riccardo Candido, president of the Association of Diabetologists (AMD) and president of the Federation of Italian Diabetes Societies (FeSdi)– 2 out of 3 have more 65 years old. We are talking about people who are often fragile, with other chronic diseases and a higher risk of comorbidities, who take various medications daily, which makes the care and therapeutic path more complex with the risk of fragmentation and redundancies. However, we can and must aspire to good glycemic control and the various cardiovascular risk factors also for these people to reduce complications and hospitalizations“.
According to Riccardo Candido, “the best way to achieve good results is to personalize and, above all, simplify as much as possible the care and treatment paths, to improve care, therapeutic adherence and quality of life of people with diabetes and multi-chronicity< /strong>. Fortunately this is possible today thanks to technological and pharmacological progress which allows us not only to treat people better but also to develop organizational models aimed at reducing the fragmentation of pathways”.
“The elderly patient he frequently performs little physical activity and does not follow a balanced diet – states the president of the Italian Society of Diabetology (Sid), Angelo Avogaro– which can lead to an increase in body weight which, as is known, represents an important risk factor for the onset of diabetes, in addition to natural aging. In recent years we have also become aware of the impact of the environment and climate change in the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and tumors and in the worsening of the metabolic control of diabetes, a link that requires greater awareness on the part of the institutions and all the players in the healthcare sector”.
“Although much has been done in recent years – writes in the preface of the Report the rector of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Nathan Levialdi Ghiron– to date, in Italy, there is still disparity between the various regions and territories with regards to prevention programmes, education for a healthy lifestyle, protection from risk factors, information, access to care and the use of technologies, such as, for example, telemedicine, digital systems for glucose monitoring and innovative systems for insulin administration” .
“It is necessary to address a public health emergency such as diabetes in a more efficient and structured way – declares the Honorable Roberto Pella, president of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Obesity and Diabetes and chronic non-communicable diseases and deputy vice-president of Anci – creating bodies that are able to coordinate all the subjects and sectors involved in health education, from the world of education and literacy to the mass media, organizing advocacy campaigns prevention and awareness raising throughout the national territory. At the same time, the existing diabetology centers need to be strengthened by integrating them within an authentic local medicine network capable of treating and caring for people with diabetes in the most effective way through diagnostics, more innovative therapies, telemedicine and uniform access to care and treatments throughout the national territory“.
“The involvement of territories and local decision-makers and the implementation of telemedicine tools – he specifies < strong>Senator Daniela Sbrollini, president of the Parliamentary Intergroup Obesity and Diabetes and chronic non-communicable diseases, vice-president of the 10th Permanent Commission on Social Affairs, Health, Work and Social Security of the Senate – represent key elements that will allow a more effective care of the patient and, even before that, to ‘take care’ of the citizen, his quality of life and his well-being. A proximity that is able to increasingly enhance the doctor-patient relationship, essential for the care of the most fragile and vulnerable people”.
“The objective of Novo Nordisk is to bring a concrete change in the treatment of diabetes- concludes Marco Salvini, Senior Director External Affairs of Novo Nordisk Italia– and for several years we have been committed to finding innovative solutions capable of simplifying treatment and improving people’s quality of life and, at the same time, reduce the environmental impact of our products. We are always very supportive of moments of discussion such as the annual Diabetes Forum and we thank the IBDO Foundation for its continuous commitment in the fight against diabetes, aware that all stakeholders, including companies, can give a important contribution in the fight, treatment and prevention of diabetes and chronic non-communicable diseases“.