Diabetes Roundtable Forum: Strategies and Challenges in Diabetes Prevention and Management
On June 25, the Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association celebrated its 20th anniversary, bringing together patients, physicians, and entrepreneurs to share their insights and perspectives on diabetes prevention and management.
Professor Guo Xiaohui, Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital
Q: What are the development trends and challenges in diabetes medical services?
A: Diabetes is a highly prevalent chronic disease, with a prevalence rate in China exceeding the global average. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the majority of cases, and disease control remains suboptimal, having increased by nearly 20% over the five-year period ending in 2015. This situation is attributed to poor medication adherence and limited health awareness among diabetic patients in China, leading to ineffective implementation of long-term treatment plans and severe complications.
Professor Chen Wei, Chairman of the Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association and Director of the Department of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition at Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Q: Over the 20 years since its establishment, what major challenges has the Beijing Diabetes Association encountered in diabetes prevention, treatment, and management, which have largely relied on traditional offline management methods?
A: Over the past 20 years of practice, the Diabetes Association has encountered numerous obstacles in its work due to the limitations of traditional offline management methods, including limited interactive communication channels and low efficiency. In the upcoming "Peer Management" project for diabetes, the Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association will leverage its expert council members and diabetes education bases, effectively utilizing internet-based tools. Through the Zhangshang Tangyi (Pocket Diabetologist) APP and its convenient one-stop diabetes medical service platform, the Association will encourage patients to strengthen blood glucose monitoring, adhere to dietary and exercise guidance, and participate in health education. This multi-dimensional approach aims to enhance self-management among patients with diabetes.
Director Duan Changxia, Beijing 12320 Health Hotline Service Center
Q: Drawing on cases encountered in the daily operations of the Beijing Public Health Hotline Service Center, what are your views on diabetes prevention and control?
A: In the routine case records of the Beijing Public Health Hotline Service Center, many patients with diabetes were unaware of their condition, indicating poor health management awareness and insufficient knowledge about diabetes among the general population. There is also a discrepancy between patients’ understanding of diabetes management and that of professional physicians, leading to suboptimal continuity of care and control outside hospital settings. Effective education for patients with diabetes and high-risk populations, along with sustained guidance and supervision on lifestyle modifications in daily life, are essential.
Patient Representative: Zhang Qi
Q: What are the main challenges encountered in the daily self-management of diabetes?
A: Taking my personal and family experience as an example, we were initially unaware of how to manage daily life after the diagnosis. Regular blood glucose monitoring and recording were required, necessitating reminders and supervision. We were uncertain about dietary restrictions—what foods were permissible or prohibited—as well as whether physical activity was advisable and, if so, how it should be conducted. This led to a diminished quality of life, significant psychological burden, and substantial financial strain on the family due to long-term medication costs.
Ms. Zhang Yuqin, Chief Medical Officer of Palm Sugar Doctor
Q: How does Palm Sugar Doctor achieve comprehensive out-of-hospital management for diabetes?
A: The hallmark of diabetes is its chronic nature; patients often require long-term medication and frequent follow-up examinations. Moreover, the patient’s level of active engagement, self-management capability, and adherence significantly influence disease progression.
Zhangshang Tangyi addresses two core needs in the out-of-hospital management of diabetes patients. On one hand, it provides education on diabetes prevention and control; on the other, by integrating software with hardware, it connects online shared data with existing offline resources to help patients establish healthy lifestyles and scientifically record and monitor their health data in real time. With the continuous support of Zhangshang Tangyi, we hope that an increasing number of diabetes patients can gradually transition from a “diabetic” lifestyle to a “normal” one.
The most critical role in the long-term management of diabetes is played by the patients themselves. At this conference, Zhangshang Tangyi and the Beijing Diabetes Prevention and Control Association jointly signed a cooperation agreement for the Diabetes "Peer" Management Project. With the support of project physicians and volunteers, both parties will gradually train a "peer" team of nearly 1,000 individuals. They aim to establish a "peer" management system on a scale of tens of thousands, including diabetic patients and high-risk populations, organized through peer groups. This system will then extend its reach via the "Zhangshang Tangyi" mobile management platform to hundreds of thousands of individuals with diabetes or at high risk.