Havana, Cuba.- Deaths due to diabetes in Latin America and the Caribbean are are a key discussion point on Thursday during the 4th Symposium of the Latin American Diabetes Association in Cuba.

In the context of the 1st International Diabetes Congress and the 10th Cuban Diabetes Congress, the event is propitious to discuss the epidemiology of this chronic disease in Cuba, in which some 747,466 cases of patients were reported in 2018.

Exchanges on the genetic component of type II diabetes and psychosocial confrontation in its treatment are among the issues on debate by some 400 specialists from Latin America, the United States, Europe and Asia, gathered at the Conference Center in Havana until May 24 .

A presentation on the insulin resistance syndrome in childhood, by Mexican expert Maria Luisa Ponce, is part of the scientific program today.

Researches on neonatal diabetes, the heart of elderly diabetic patients, as well as carbohydrate and metabolic disorder as predictor in obese patients suffering from the disease, join to the list.

‘From risk foot to complicated foot in patients’ is under discussion, in which the role of hyperbaric oxygen to treat this disease is analyzed, as well as results obtained with the application of Heberprot-P.

Factors such as sedentary lifestyle, obesity, family history, high blood pressure and lipid disorders are considered risk for diabetes. More than 422 million people worldwide are currently suffering from this disease.

The 1st International Diabetes Congress began on Wednesday in Havana with a presentation on the accumulated experience and milestones in caring diabetics in Cuba, by Ileydis Iglesias, director of the National Institute of Endocrinology.