The Cruces Hospital coordinates part of a new epidemiological study on diabetes in Spain and its first results advance a higher prevalence of the disease than what it was formerly expected.

The findings were announced by the director of the Research Department of the Cruces Hospital, Luis Castaño, at the XXI National Congress of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED), held in April in Madrid. Castaño is also the vice president of SED and chairs the scientific committee of the Congress.

The preliminary findings of the study show a greater prevalence of diabetes and points the youth as one the population groups with an increased number of cases, which will produce a large impact in the health system in the upcoming years.

Precisely, Luis Castaño, highlighted the importance of prevention. "Especially in Type 2 diabetes, closely related to healthy lifestyles, there is evidence that exercise and a healthy diet minimise the risk of developing this disease", he stressed.

In Spain, it is estimated that there are around 3 million diabetics; half of them are not even diagnosed, according to the data of the Spanish Diabetes Society (SED), and in the past ten years the incidence has increased by 30%.

The Cruces Hospital is currently involved in 150 clinical trials, promoted by the pharmaceutical industry, scientific societies and collaborative research groups. It annually develops around 100 research projects; takes part in three Thematic Research Networks (RETICs), in three Biomedical Research Networking consortia (CIBERs) and in several international projects.