Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT1795

The last decade has seen a significant increase in cases of diabetes mellitus (DM), a trend that is expected to continue to rise, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where mortality is higher according to the World Health Organisation. On the African continent, DM is positioned as one of the major non-communicable diseases that often go undiagnosed and untreated. This research aims to analyse the situation of DM in Equatorial Guinea, identifying the associated risk factors and evaluating the impact of health interventions in its population. For its development, an educational intervention programme was implemented in the capital of the country, targeting both patients and health personnel, together with a qualitative study that analysed the knowledge on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of DM, as well as the availability of resources. The results of the study revealed that patients with DM simultaneously present the main risk factors: poor dietary habits (98%), high blood pressure (64%), overweight (57.2%) and obesity (49.8%). At the same time, a lack of programmes aimed at the early diagnosis and comprehensive management of this disease was identified, a situation that is increasingly worsening due to the low perception of DM as a health priority among patients and health personnel despite its high morbimortality. In this context, there is an urgent need to design and implement tailored strategies including awareness raising campaigns, specialised training of healthcare workers and the development of diabetes prevention and early detection programmes. In conclusion, it is essential to improve the perception of DM as a health priority through comprehensive and contextualised strategies. It is recommended to establish health checks focused on early detection. It is also proposed to develop educational programmes that address nutrition, self-care and body weight management, as well as to train medical staff and promote outreach campaigns on different digital platforms that are popular among the population are key elements to improve the care and prognosis of diabetes in Equatorial Guinea.