The incidence of this condition in the Puerto Rican population is approximately 50%.
By: Luisa Ochoa
Although not all people who have metabolic syndrome suffer from type 2 diabetes and vice versa, metabolic syndrome has become an important reference for endocrinologists, since it allows us to know what risk patients have for developing diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
This was explained by Dr. Renil Rodríguez, an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes and metabolism, during the leading program of the Medicina y Health Public, called ‘Experts in Health‘ where the management of the main chronic conditions that most affect the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America is addressed.
“Not all patients who have diabetes have metabolic syndrome and not all patients who have metabolic syndrome have diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that can lead to type 2 diabetes,” she noted.
See the full program here.
Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
Among the risk factors that metabolic syndrome includes, is having low levels of HDL or good cholesterol; high triglyceride levels; elevated abdominal circumference and increased blood pressure.
“These are risk factors for diabetes, but also for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Rodríguez.
On the other hand, aspects related to diabetes are: glucose intolerance, elevated fasting glucose, high glycosylated hemoglobin, among other characteristic signs of this progressive disease.
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It should be clarified that metabolic syndrome is not a chronic disease like diabetes, in this case the risk factors can be limited to avoid reaching a lifelong diagnosis and that it cannot be reversed.
“The condition of diabetes, even if it is controlled, is a progressive condition, so you cannot lower your guard in maintaining lifestyle habits, diet, exercise. What a patient can do to avoid progressing to needing insulin is healthy eating and exercise, I am always emphasizing that, even if the patient is under control”, emphasized the endocrinologist.
In both cases, a balanced diet, weight control added to physical activity and a healthy lifestyle can prevent diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as well as cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes in Puerto Rico
A recent study estimated that the prevalence of diabetes in Puerto Rico is at 20%, a high statistic that has been constantly increasing in recent years, with type 2 diabetes being the most treated in medical practice.
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