• Submitted by: Luis Manuel Mazorra
• Health and Medicine
• 11 / 22 / 2011

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In order to fight a non-contagious chronic disease that affects health is now held in Cuba and the rest of the world, World Diabetes Day. How to avoid it is one of the most important ones that will target activities.

This will be developed throughout the country for reflection in waiting rooms of clinics and counseling centers for diabetics, drawing contests and literary schools for health.

There will also be cultural festivals, educational, scientific activities, among other strategies.

The World Diabetes Day was established by initiative of the International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organization, every November 14.

The date marks the anniversary of the birthday of Frederick Banting, who along with Charles Best, played a key role in the discovery in 1922 of insulin, a hormone essential in the treatment of those affected.

It is estimated that worldwide there are over 220 million people with diabetes, however, the disease is often preventable if practiced from an early age exercises to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, and assume a balanced diet, free of excess fat, sugars and carbohydrates, experts say.

One of the most feared complications affecting the quality of life of individuals is the appearance of ulcers in the lower limbs, a problem that almost always ends with the so-called diabetic foot and amputation in a large percentage of cases.

Globally there are few drugs available to treat the ailment. However, a new product designed in Cuba has changed the lives of many patients.

Heberprot-P, a biologic developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), is now considered the only alternative to prevent limb amputation in diabetic patients with terminal injuries.

The lyophilized, whose active ingredient is recombinant human growth factor, is applied via injection for intra-and perilesional.

Several years after its release, the drug shows high effectiveness as ulcer healing rebels were an unmet medical need, told Prensa Latina Dr. Manuel Real, specialist of IGBC.

The therapy has revolutionized the paradigm in the management of this condition, which involved an irreversible amputation. In diabetes healing mechanism fails, and the inability to control infection, he said.