“The Diabetes Committee of Hospitals Association of Korea left an indelible mark in giving hope to diabetics and raising the public awareness of the disease,” said Chairman Sin Pong Chol as he addressed the meeting held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the DCoHAK on Dec 5.

He extended heartfelt thanks to the government, committee members, volunteers and international cooperation organizations including the International Diabetes Federation for their close interest and endeavours.

According to the estimates of the federation, there are more than 400 million diabetics around the world and the number is expected to rise to 642 million by 2040, which means that one out of ten adults would suffer from the disease by then.

In the DPRK, too, diabetes is rated as a serious disease with significant morbidity and disability rate.

The DCoHAK has made strenuous efforts to build a diabetes-free society under the nationwide support.

It set the primary and secondary prevention of diabetes, assessment of resistance to insulin, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nervous disorder, and application of traditional medicine to the treatment of secondary diabetes as the priority research project and renovated the treatment of the disease on a scientific basis to become a trustful companion of patients in the prevention and management of diabetes and relevant complications.

It has realized the integrated management of diabetes within the boundary of the primary medical service on the basis of the universal and complete free medical care system of the country in order to apply the most effective method to reducing diabetes with lower cost.

In particular, it ensures that the annual nationwide epidemiological survey becomes an opportunity for teaching people the hygienic information about diabetes and ways to prevent and manage the disease, and organizes diabetes-related hygienic information activities in different ways on such occasions as World Diabetes Day (Nov 14). Recently, a mobile app was developed to support the prevention and management of diabetes.

It is paying much heed to improving the quality of medical service for the residents in the disaster-stricken areas and persons of disabilities and to laying material and technical foundations for providing the public with easy access to diabetes care.

“When the diabetes care ward under construction is completed, it will not only provide more rooms for hospitalization but also play an important part as a base for large-scale prevention, advocacy and propaganda as well as research into diabetes,” said Sin.

The DCoHAK is briskly conducting sci-tech exchange and collaboration activities with international organizations and societies including the IDF.