The newspaper of the Lithuanian Diabetes Association
No 1 (37) February 10, 2003
| » Archive of earlier newspaper issues | » Lithuanian version |
Page 1
Bishop Juozas Tunaitis shares his
thoughts about the yearly World Diabetes Day on 14 November. The society gets
especial care and much information on that day. Every year on 14 November
special Mass is scarified in Vilnius cathedral. This year a pray was
co-operated with a noble action of Lithuanian Diabetes Association. The
participants of Mass were invited to conduct a level of glucose in their blood.
Suffering and death is a necessary part of our life. But love can help greatly
in this. Thanks to doctors and all workers in health care area. They carefully
do this work of intimate love.
Page 2
LDA Is the Member of International Diabetes Federation.
The information about
LDA working hours is provided. Attention! The address of LDA is changed:
Gedimino av. 28/2, 404 room, LT-2600 Vilnius. Tel. +370 5 2620783, fax +370 5
2610639.
Page 3
About 2% of readership answered questions of questionnaire
published in Diabetes No. 4(36). 48 % of them live in districts or villages and
52% live in cities. 70% of people with diabetes use insulin, 6% use insulin and
tablets, 24% use only tablets. 33% of them suffer from 2 or 3 contiguous
illnesses or diabetes complications, 45% suffer from 3 or even 5 illnesses, 15%
- more than 5, others have at least 1 contiguous illness. To the question “Who
prescribes medicine for people with diabetes?” most of respondents said, that
therapeutist prescribes, endocrinologist prescribes medicine for 45% of respondents,
cardiologist - to 9% of respondents, neurologist – to 9% and oculist to 30% of
respondents. Even 21% of respondents refereed to the fact that doctors do not
prescribe all the medicine they need any more. 12% of respondents said they
lack prescribed medicine even for a month, thus 75% take medical advice once a
month, 19% - twice a month, 3% - three times per month or even more. To get a
necessary medical advice 45% of people with diabetes need to register
themselves 1 – 3 days before a visit, 33% - 1 or 2 weeks before, 22% - 1 or 2
months before or even earlier. 85% of people need to pay in addition for
compensated medicine. Extra pay is from 4 Lt to 210 Lt, thus 30% of people pays
in addition 20 – 100 Lt, 6% pay in addition even more. Only 80% of people with
diabetes who use insulin and dues 150 diagnostically sticks obtained all of
them. 11% received only 100 sticks, 9% did not received any of them. To get a
medical care people need to travel from 10 to 36 km. People pay to 30 Lt for
travel to doctor and waste from 1 to 9 hours. 64% of respondents have
invalidity. 95% of them have invalidity because of diabetes complications.
About 30% of people bribe doctors. Other troubles were pointed out. Most of
respondents torment in rows near doctors’ cabinets. Some people were
deteriorated because medicine was changed to cheaper. People have trouble with
getting endocrinologist and other specialists. Some people get their
compensated medicine only after 3 or 4 days after presenting a prescription.
Doctors do not prescribe medicine for some illnesses and even insulin and their
reason is medicine limits. The most of readership do not have possibility to
pay in addition for a medicine, so they do not buy it. Thus they do not use
medicine for some days or diminish a dose. That’s way the health deteriorates
constantly. People ask for such things:
¨ Doctors must be permitted to
prescribe all necessary compensated medicine as in diabetes case as in other
illnesses cases.
¨ The number of compensated
diagnostically sticks conducting blood glucose must be increased.
¨ People with diabetes and other
chronic illnesses must be permitted to access endocrinologists and other
specialists directly and not to suffer in rows near therapeutists’ cabinets
only because of sending.
¨ People with diabetes and other
chronic illnesses must get sending to health repairing healing or
rehabilitation from clinic without additional hospitalisation.
¨ Medicine for people with diabetes
and other chronic illnesses must be prescribed for time span till 3 months.
¨ If in-patient department lack
particular medicine, patient must get prescription for this medicine.
So this questionnaire showed that joy of Health care
ministry and officers’ of State patients’ fund for improving situation and
balanced budget is unreal.
LDA reminds of subscribing
“Diabetes” for IV quarter.
Page 4
Significant
celebrations of World Diabetes Day
Prepared by the president of LDA Vida Augustiniene according
to “Newsletter IDF-Europe No.1”, 2002 December.
New
victories
The president of LDA Vida Augustiniene greets a member of
diabetes organisation Vidmantas Pilibaitis from Rokiskis who wined new sport
victories in 2002. Sportsman thanks to sponsors for support.
Pages 5 – 10
Celebrations
of World Diabetes Day
Lithuanian Diabetes
Association
World Diabetes Day was celebrated in all countries of
International Diabetes Federation members. IDF prepared much information on
this topic and sended it to all members. Lithuanian Diabetes Association
prepared this material in Lithuanian and delivered it to collective members of
LDA, that was clubs, communities. An information was published in the newspaper
“Diabetes”. On that occasion corresponding information was published not only
in newspapers “Lietuvos rytas”, “Respublika” and “Kauno diena”, but in many
local newspapers as well. LNK, LTV, Lithuanian radio and other radio stations
transmitted occasional coverage.
LDA prepared and delivered information on these topics:
¨ Letter from IDF president Prof. Sir
George Alberti;
¨ Message from the World Health
Organisation for World Diabetes Day;
¨ Your Eyes and Diabetes: facts
and figures. Did You know that…;
¨ Quiz “How much do you know about diabetic eye complications?”
¨ Quiz “Multiple Choise on diabetes &
eye complications, healthy eating and exercise”
¨ Project EyeCheck: Easily-accessible
eye examinations from the optician ‘around the corner’ (Holland);
¨ Your Guide to Your Eyes and
Diabetes. Don’t lose sight of the risks.
¨ Booklet “Diabetes. Know about a
danger”
¨ Booklet “14 November – World
Diabetes Day”
Council for the Affairs of Disabled at the Government of
Lithuania was the general sponsor of World Diabetes Day in LDA. JSC “Abovita”,
Eksmos MTC, Interlux, Limeta, Medisana and others also supported a celebration.
During the celebrations not only an information about
spreading illness was delivered, but prophylactic tests of blood glucose were
conducted as well. An information from 37 local clubs was obtained. Total
number of tests 8254. 1481 of them were conducted for people with diabetes and
6783 were prophylactic. The results are not joyful. Even 606 (40%) people with
diabetes do not control an illness and 1208 (17.8%) people tested prophylactic
have not normal level of blood glucose. All of them were suggested to appeal to
their doctors and find out if they have not diabetes as soon as possible. 71.5%
of people with high level of glucose are under 40, 59% of them have overweight,
16% have relatives with diabetes.
Unfortunately, some clubs did not filled all questionnaires
and over 700 results did not get into this account.
LDA is happy for chiefs of clubs who worked sincerely with
organising and conducting blood glucose as well as for doctors, nurses and
sponsors. Siauliai, LDA, Marijampole, Radviliskis, Vilnius “Dia”, Skuodas,
Vilkaviskis, Elektrenai, Druskininkai, Panevezys, Mazeikiai, Klaipeda, Utena,
Alytus clubs conducted the biggest number of blood glucose tests.
Bishop J.Tunaitis scarified Mass in Vilnius cathedral for
all members of LDA, all people with diabetes, their doctors and nurses. Bishop
said this was the first time in the history of Lithuanian church when people
could check their health congruous with Mass. LDA acted this noble mission.
Local members of LDA helped as well.
Druskininkai
Druskininkai diabetes club “Atgaja” celebrated World
Diabetes day along with four-year jubilee. The chief of the club Jelena
Simoniene presented an activity of club very inventively. Jelena Simoniene is a
member of Druskininkai Council of local government observers.
Jonava
Over 1000 people in Jonava are supposed to have diabetes.
Diabetes club “Ramune” unites over 80 people at the moment. Members of the club
were happy to have an opportunity to communicate and share their experience.
They thanked to their chief Jonas Laiva for that celebration.
Kelme
The chief of Kelme diabetes club Larisa Rarovskaja was happy
to find that number of members did not diminished this year and they can begin
a celebration without a minute of silence.
Klaipeda
Diabetes club “CD” helped to fund children’s diabetes club
“Smalsuciai”. World Diabetes Day in 2002 was organised by this club. Actions of
health checking were conducted in market different places.
Mazeikiai
Mazeikiai diabetes club “Zemaiciu speka” co-operates with
other patients’ organisations. On World Diabetes Day they were happy for
Mazeikiai health coalition funded this year.
Palanga
During 22 – 23 November scientific and practical conference
“Urgent question of diabetology” took place.
Radviliskis
Local health community supported prophylactic blood glucose
tests for people. Members of diabetes club “Likimas” discussed results with
local chief doctor.
Skuodas
Skuodas club “Diabetes” was funded 1990. The chief of club
Vincas Dauginis thanks to “Abovita” for a great gift – 33 devices for blood
glucose checking and is pity that not every person with diabetes wants to
participate in the activity of the club.
Siauliai
The chief of diabetes club “Lemtis” Laima Mikaliuniene is
sure that their activity is very useful for inhabitants of Siauliai. Last month
over 300 people apply to the club to find out if they have not diabetes. Let’s
save a light of eyesight, because most often we think of it only after we lose
it, that was the thought of World Diabetes Day.
Silale
People in Silale are not indifferent to their health and
participate in activity of the club.
Silute
Members of Silute diabetes club reviewed ten-year activity.
Children from children garden “Zvaigzdute” wished to participants happiness and
never to ill.
Taurage
Market of handicrafts took part along with World Diabetes
Day celebration.
Varena
People during a celebration wrote a letter to members of
Parliament (Seimas) asking not to take from them compensations for diet
nutrition.
Vilkaviskis
During celebration of World Diabetes Day winners of
questionnaire “What do you know about diabetes complications?” were awarded.
Page 7
An advertisement on self-control devices Gluco Care by AB Limeta.
Page 10
World
Diabetes Day
Information about results
of blood tests by LDA
|
In year |
Number of people who tested their blood glucose |
Number of people with rather high glucose level |
% |
Number of clubs, which sent data |
|
1993 |
1943 |
100 |
5.1 |
20 |
|
1994 |
1272 |
80 |
6.0 |
9 |
|
1995 |
3249 |
295 |
9.0 |
31 |
|
1996 |
2880 |
369 |
13.0 |
24 |
|
1997 |
2387 |
186 |
8.0 |
27 |
|
1998 |
1829 |
130 |
7.1 |
20 |
|
1999 |
4813 |
551 |
11.4 |
28 |
|
2000 |
3864 |
434 |
11.2 |
26 |
|
2001 |
4656 |
996 |
17.7 |
31 |
|
2002 |
6883 |
1208 |
17.8 |
37 |
These people who were found with high levels of glucose, were suggested
to undergo a proper health examination. Data of such test have been presented
to the Ministry of Health.
Page 11
An advertisement on self-control devices Super Glucocard II by Interlux.
Diabetes –
inflammatory illness
An article prepared by associate professor Algimantas Simkus
according to Great Britain journal “Practical Diabetes International”.
In Lithuania discussions about diabetes as inflammatory
illness began much earlier, even in 1980. Inflammatory origin is the week side
of diabetes. We can force this aggressive illness to get back only by healing
inflammation produced by bacterium. Insulin and tablets are only the means of
patients’ maintenance.
We plan to deliver an information about inflammatory aspects
of diabetes and new methods of healing diabetes in our newspaper
systematically.
Page 12
Health
passport “DIABETES”
LDA started spreading health passport for members of
diabetes clubs. An example of filling in the passport is presented.
Page 13
·
On 6
November 2002, Health Minister R. K. Dobrovolskis and member of Seimas I.
Degutiene discussed about health reform during LNK TV broadcast. 10 members of
Lithuanian Council of representatives of Patients’ organisations and the
president of LDA Vida Augustiniene participated in the discussion.
·
On 8 November
the president of LDA congratulated participants of World Diabetes Day
celebration in Joniskis.
·
On 9
November V.Augustiniene, Prof. J.Danilevicius and the secretary of LDA
J.Dainaraviciene spoke in the celebration of World Diabetes Day and four-year
jubilee in Druskininkai.
·
On 11
November V.Augustiniene, J.Dainaraviciene, members of LDA council
L.Vitkauskiene and S.Narkunas delivered an information to participants of World
Diabetes Day celebration in Jonava.
·
On 12
November Vilnius diabetes club “Beta” invited the representatives of LDA
V.Augustiniene, J.Dainaraviciene and Dr. E.Rudinskiene to World Diabetes Day
celebration.
·
On 12
November the president of LDA presented information about insidious illness in
the radio broadcast assigned to World Diabetes Day.
·
On 13
November V.Augustiniene spoke during the First program of Lithuanian State
Radio.
·
On 13
November mass assigned to people with diabetes, their doctors and nurses was
scarified in Vilnius cathedral. According to bishop J.Tunaitis, it was the first
time when people could check their health in the church. LDA initiated blood
glucose tests. Nurses J.Uleckiene and G.Mereskeviciute conducted tests.
·
On 14
November the president of LDA spoke during the Second programme of Lithuanian
State Radio.
World Diabetes Day celebrations took
part in many districts of Lithuania.
·
On 15
November the representatives of LDA V.Augustiniene, E.Rudinskiene, the member
of Parliament A.Rimas and officers of local government took part in the
celebration of Mariampole diabetes club.
·
On 21
November V.Augustiniene met children from Klaipeda and their parents. World
Diabetes Day and one-year jubilee of children diabetes club were celebrated.
·
During
22 – 23 November V.Augustiniene told about an activity of Lithuanian Diabetes
Association in the conference “Urgent questions of diabetology”, organized by
Society of doctors endocrinologists
·
On 26
November during the meeting of Lithuanian Council of representatives of
patients’ organisations the candidature of the president of LDA was offered to
the position of special expert in Health committee of Seimas. On 13 January
2003 candidature was confirmed in Seimas.
·
On 27
November the renewal meeting of Kaisiadorys diabetes club took part.
·
On 29
November V.Augustiniene delivered a report in the conference “Health reform:
ways and mistakes” of Mazeikiai coalition of health organisations.
·
On 3
December the problems of people with different illnesses were discussed during
the meeting with the members of Lithuanian Seimas I. Degutiene and R. Alekna.
The members of the Lithuanian Council of representatives of Patients’
organisations V.Augustiniene and D.Kasubiene took part in the discussion.
·
On 5
December Mrs. Lilly Karn and the member of Viesbaden Lion’s club Schirmer
Christa visited Lithuanian Diabetes Association. Quests met children from
Vilnius diabetes club “Diabite Plius” and their parents. 1000 EUR were gifted
to LDA for buying glucose diagnostic sticks to children.
·
On 6
December the president of LDA participated in the meeting with candidates to
Lithuania President in Santariskes clinics.
·
On 9
December V.Augustiniene and J.Simoniene discussed with doctors of KMU children
clinics about co-operation organising educational camps for children with
diabetes.
·
On 12
December V.Augustiniene reported her speech about diabetes, its’ complications
and efforts to co-operate with medicine stores improving situation. The speech
was delivered during the conference in the Kaunas College, the centre of
medicine and social studies.
·
On 13
December the president of LDA was interviewed by “News’ radio” about patients’
problems.
·
On 14
December V.Augustiniene met the members of Kaisiadorys diabetes club.
·
On 14
December Vilnius diabetes club “Dia” celebrated 15-year jubilee.
·
On 16
December during the meeting of the Lithuanian Council of representatives of
Patients’ Organisations suggestions about health reform improvement were
discussed.
·
On 17
December the meeting of State diabetes program committee took place in Health
ministry.
·
During
17 – 18 December V.Augustiniene shared her experience about healthy nutrition
with diet students in Vilnius College.
·
On 19
December doctor E.Rudinskiene and V.Augustiniene met the members of Skuodas
diabetes club.
·
On 20
December the president of LDA participated in the Forum of non governmental
organisations in Vilnius.
·
On 23
December V.Augustiniene, D.Andriuliene, D.Kasubiene, L.Bartkeviciene, I.Juknys,
M.Chmeliauskiene, U.Sakuniene,O.Telyceniene, E.Kvedaraite met the President of
Lithuania Valdas Adamkus. The troubles of health reform were discussed and the
suggestions for improving situation were reported. The decision about the
meeting of Health ministry and representatives of Patients’ organisations in
the nearest time was determined.
·
On 17
January the work group of State diabetes programme met in KMU clinic of
endocrinology.
·
On 22
January during the meeting of LDA council an activity of 2002 was evaluated and
the work plan for 2003 was confirmed.
Page 14
We still
wanted to be together
Lithuanian Diabetes Association mourns for a loss. On 9
January 2003 an illness cut Dr. Antanas Vytautas Stepanas’ life. He was
prominent personality and shared his experience with LDA. He visited Lithuania
once a 2 year and when could not communicated by letters. Let stay him in our
memories.
Page 15
Advertisement on substitute of sugars Canderel.
Pages 15 – 16
Child care
in a family
Prepared by Dr. Egle Jakimaviciene according to foreign
press.
Pages 17 – 18
An appeal
To the President of Lithuania Valdas
Adamkus
1. Prevention
1.1.
It is necessary to improve prophylactic and ambulance
medicine. It is necessary to acquire contemporary diagnostic tools in state
medical institutions as far as private are not accessible for most of patients.
1.2.
It is important to improve good and accessible diagnostic of
early stages of chronic illnesses. After limits for compensated medicine were
established new facts of illnesses are avoided to diagnose.
1.3.
Avoiding amputations and other complications the valuations
for nurses diabetologists and foot care specialists posts must be established.
Cabinets of diabetes education and foot care in local clinics must be renewed
or funded.
2. Compensation
of medicine and health care services
2.1.
After the order of Health Minister No. 85 due to limits of
compensations of health care services and medicine was confirmed, qualified and
effective healing is no more accessible to patients:
a) The
medicine is changed by other cheaper and even having other effect uses.
b) The
quantity of compensated medicine is limited. If two sorts of medicine is
prescribed other sorts of medicine are offered for money.
c) People are
sent from one doctor to other.
d) To obtain
a specialist at a time is impossible.
2.2.
We offer to keep maximal compensation of medicine for people
with mortally dangerous illnesses and aim contemporary medicine. The increasing
of money for patients’ hospitalisation and social compensation would be avoided
in such a way.
2.3.
We offer gradually to include medicine of new generation for
hard illnesses which medicine was not compensated till now.
2.4.
Maintenance with necessary medicine must be quarantined for
people with chronic illnesses.
2.5.
Medicine for people with chronic illnesses must be
compensated 100% and not after complications arise.
2.6.
A social research must be conducted to find out patients’
possibility to pay additionally for a medicine.
2.7.
A possibility for patients with hard chronic illnesses must
be found to get prescriptions for illness and complication medicine from
specialist and not to go from one doctor to another.
2.8.
Doctors must be able to prescribe medicine for a time span
till 3 months if a state of patients is stable. Thus the rows near doctors’
cabinets would be diminished and doctors could spend more time consulting
patients.
2.9.
The possibility to prescribe medicine that is lacked
in-patient clinics must be found for patients.
2.10.
Indications for rehabilitation and health repairing healing
must be broadened for patients with chronic illnesses. The possibility of
rehabilitation without hospitalisation must be discussed.
2.11.
We should renew and use old net of sanatorium and work of
specialists in the first place. Only after this we should fund expensive new
rehabilitation centres near medical institutions.
2.12.
It is necessary to fund specialised hospitals and warship
institutions in the communities for people who can not live at home because of
their physical, psychological or social disability.
2.13.
The partial compensation of stomatology services in private
cabinets must be confirmed. People must have a possibility only to pay
additionally for more expensive services.
2.14.
In the order of Lithuania Health order’s change is stated,
that basic price of compensated medicine must be calculated from producers’
price that must be lower than lowest price in European countries or excel it in
5 %.The danger of confirming this order is that accessibility of medicine can
decrease because a part of medicine will disappear from Lithuanian market or
patient will have to pay huge additional prices.
3. The participation of
representatives of Patients’ organisations in health system decisions
3.1.
Change the lows of National council of health and to involve
into council a representative of Patients’ organisations.
3.2.
The representatives of Lithuanian Patients’ Organisations
must have a possibility to participate in the meetings of Committee of
compensated medicine with a voice of advice.
3.3.
The representatives of Patients’ organisations must have a
possibility to declare their opinion about urgent patients’ questions during
the meetings of the Council of obligatory health insurance.
3.4.
Strategic questions of health care must be discussed
according to separate illnesses but in complex while all sides in interest are
participating.
3.5.
The low of obligatory health insurance states that the
Council of obligatory health insurance is advisory institution. We offer not to
confirm this statement the other way the usage of health insurance fund depends
on one person and the control of this usage is lost.
3.6.
Health politics must be bright and officers must not
collectively but directly be responsible for harmful decisions.
3.7.
Not only maintenance of life, but improvement of life
quality must be took into account in decision making.
3.8.
The Council of representatives of Lithuania Patients’
organisations must be equivalent partner in health decision making.
The problems of patients and their
suggestions were discussed and confirmed during the meeting of the Lithuanian
Council of representatives of patients’ organisations in Vilnius, 16 December
2002. The council unites representatives of 14 different illness organisations.
Page 19
Advertisement on insulin injectors Lilly.
Page 20
Christmas of “Diabite Plius”
After
traditional trip in 2002 members of “Dia - Bite” noticed that many of them grew
up. They did not want to separate, so decided to reorganise a club into Vilnius
children and youth’ diabetes club “Diabite Plius”. At the end of December this
club traditionally celebrated Christmas, met Santa Clause.
We seek for knowledge about healthy nutrition
The chief of Radviliskis diabetes club “Likimas” Jeronimas
Dambrauskas tells about meeting with representatives of “Korys” laboratory.
Page 21
Advertisement on self-control devices Accu-Chek Active by Eksmos
MTC.
Pages 21 – 22
Valuation
of organisation’s activity
The readerships of a newspaper are invited to answer the
questions. Your answers will help us to evaluate the activity of LDA in
Lithuania areas.
Page 22
Advertisement on vitamins Diabetiker by Worwag Pharma
GmbH& Co.
Page 23
Eyes and diabetes
The answers to quiz
published in “Diabetes” No. 4 (36) are provided.
Pages 24 – 25
Inform others about yourself
KMU Endocrinology Institute Dr. Rytas Ostrauskas presents
information about diabetes. He asks all people with diabetes fill in the
questionnaire published in the page 24. It will help scientists to evaluate the
real state of patients in our country better. Personal data you provide are
important only to scientific evaluation of diabetes situation in Lithuania and
they are not passed on to any other organisation. We offer you to keep your
personal secrets as well as Lithuanian lows do.
Page 25
Advertisement on injector FlexPen by Novo Nordisk.
Page 26 – 27
News from a conference of EASD
An information of
2002 from EASD is provided.
Page 28