The newspaper of the Lithuanian Diabetes Association
No 2 (26) May 10, 2000
The study of investigations of diabetes control and complications in the USA (DCCT) and perspective studies of diabetes in the United Kingdom has been completed recently. It has been established by them that regular control of the blood glucose level and checking of the blood pressure determine patient's health condition as in type I, as in type II diabetes. Good control of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids helps to decrease rate of complications in 30-70% (The edition of the IDF "Diabetes Health Economics: Facts, Figures and Forecasts", 1999). |
| Consultation in the LDA residence |
Automatic and frequent measurementsAlerts for high and low glucose levelsTrend indicator with each glucose readingEvent markers to record seven different activities (e.g., meal, insulin)Time icon indicates "time to next measurement"Programmable display in 14 languages
On 8 of Feb, 2000 representatives of the LDA (dr. E. Baltrusaitiene, D. Kveda-raviciene, R. Lisauskas, I. Matuliene, A. Jusyte, and V. Augustiniene) met with members of the State Health Insurance. Difficulties arising to the patients with diabetes in terms of their wishes to be treated in sanatoria, of deficit in means of self-control and other problems were discussed in this meeting. Suggestions about the improvement of the situation were offered. Actual questions about reimbursed drugs, means of medical care, and services were answered.On 11 of Feb at the LDA Council meeting the account of the activities in 1999, the plan of the work in 2000 were confirmed. The project of the Programme to the Council for the Affairs of Disabled at the Government of LR for the 2001 was approved. Representatives of Pfizer H. C. P. Corporation in Lithuania were admitted as a permanent sponsor of the LDA. New remedies Amaryl and Prostavasin and sweetener Cukradiet were introduced.On 14 of Feb at the meeting with representatives of Novo Nordisk plans of the collaboration were discussed.On 15 of Feb at the republican course organised by the Society of Lithuanian dietologists the LDA President V. Augustiniene made an oral presentation "Modern Approach to Diabetes Mellitus and its Correction with Diet".On 21 of Feb fairs of collaboration of the LDA with CSC "Labomeda" were discussed at the meeting with its chairman A.Garsva.On 21 of Feb the LDA President V. Augustiniene and Executive Secretary D. Kvedaraviciene had a meeting with a work group formed by Ministry of health care under guidance of A. Armonaviciene. They informed about the anxiety of people suffering from diabetes due to the changing project of the list of reimbursed means of medical care (20% of the MLS reimbursement for the nutrition were struck off). Suggestions about more rational use of means for the outpatient care of diabetes were presented.On 26 of Feb the LDA President V. Augustiniene took part at the report meeting of Siauliai diabetes club "Lemtis". She expressed dissatisfaction about the erroneous information given by club chairman A. Slivinskas to the LDA (the number of members was reduced several times when indicated, the membership dues are not paid, and the LDA regulations are not kept).On 29 of Feb the LDA met representatives of Roche Diagnostics Rita Mirz-Bierbaum and Gintaras Zaleckis. Possibilities of collaboration were discussed.On 2-5 of March in European Parliament in Brussels a conference " Patients' Organisations and the Collaboration between the East and the West in the Questions of Health Care" was organised. The LDA President V. Augustiniene by the invitation of the Committee of Health Affairs at the Parliament of LR participated there.On 8 of March conference "Diabetes can be treated "healthier" already: the options of treatment" organised by the LDA and Scientific Society of Lithuanian Geriatrists and Gerontologists took place in the Municipality of Vilnius city.On 15 of March the LDA President V. Augustiniene took part in the report meeting of the diabetes community of Vilkaviskis "Insula". Members of the club were complaining about not functioning at the moment diabetes school and diabetes foot-care ward. Under the care of the club all its members could check the glycosylated hemoglobin free of charge. The results are not gladdening: in most of the members the disease is decompensated.On 17 of March the first meeting of the LDA collective members from Vilnius and Alytus districts took place in Druskininkai. The main directions of the LDA activities were discussed, the actual questions of regional diabetes organisations were presented more widely, and experience of the work was shared.On 17 of March at the meeting with diabetes club "Dia" of Vilnius city the LDA expressed concern about the improper activities of the club: regulations neither of the club, nor of the LDA are kept.On 18 of March at the report meeting of Marijampole diabetes club the LDA President and Executive Secretary took part. The activities of the club were evaluated as very good.On 21 of March the Council of the Affairs of Invalids by the Government of LR organised a seminar "For the making of programs". The LDA President and accountant Gailute Cincikiene took part there.On 21 of March at the LDA leaders' meeting with Vilnius diabetes club "Dia" board the possibilities of improvement of activities of the club were discussed. The board of the club was obligated to organise a report-election meeting of all members in the nearest future.On 23 of March a meeting of Vilnius club "Dia-Bite" took place.On 25 of March members of collectives of the LDA from Marijampole and Kaunas districts met together in Marijampole.On 28 of March representatives of the LDA (Prof. J. Danilevicius, V. Augustiniene, D. Kvedaraviciene) and representative of the Association of patients with nephrological diseases "Gyvastis" U. Sakuniene met with the Committee of Health Affairs at the Parliament of LR and the Committee of Social Affairs and Work. They informed the Committees about difficulties arising to the patients with diabetes. Suggestions how to improve the condition were offered. The representatives of the Parliament were invited to help the LDA to organise a meeting of all institutions concerned with care of diabetes in order to discuss the directions of strategy of the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.On 29 of March for the first time all members of the LDA collective of Vilnius city took counsel together about the improvement of their activities.On 30 of March the LDA President V. Augustiniene made an oral presentation about the importance of control of diabetes at the conference of leaders of laboratories of health institutions of Vilnius district in the Clinics of Santariskes.On 31 of March the Higher Medical School for Nurses of Vilnius which lodges the LDA was celebrating the jubilee of 60 years of its activity. The LDA President and Executive Secretary publicly acknowledged the help of the collective in charitably lending of the premises.During 7-8 of April the company Novo Nordisk organised the II meeting of the diabetes associations of the Baltic states in Tallinn. Representatives of the LDA V. Augustiniene and D. Kvedaraviciene were invited to the meeting. Vice-president of the IDF Leena Etu-Seppala, representatives of diabetes associations from Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shared their work experience.On 13 of April at the LDA Council sitting CSC "Labomeda" was admitted as a permanent sponsor of the LDA, and a community of people with diabetes from Kaunas "Aronija" was admitted as a collective member.During 13-14 of April seminar of diabetes associations of Lithuania and Denmark "Shearing of experience of the work in districts" took place. The sponsor of the meeting was the company Novo Nordisk.On 24 of April Vilnius children club "Dia-Bite" organised the Easter festival.On 27 of April sitting of diabetes club of Taurage took place.During 1-2 of May the Council for the Affairs of Disabled at the Government of LR organised seminar for the questions of rights of disabled people, where the LDA Board member R. Lisauskas took part.On 5 of May representatives of diabetes clubs of Taurage and Klaipeda districts met together in Skuodas.During June and July the LDA organises camps for children and youths, and travellings with a raft "Bliuskis". We invite diabetes clubs to present lists of those who wishes to participate there as soon as possible. |
| The community of Kaunas "Likimas" cares about leisure of children |
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| The unforgettable Easter with "Teatriukas" |
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| During a minute of respite at the seminar of Diabetes Associations of Lithuania and Denmark |