Majority of Russian diabetes patients use low quality insulin

Only 18% of diabetes patients are in satisfactory condition without complications, said Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute Director Mikhail Bolobolkin during a round table on the question of 'Actual problems of diabetics in Russia,' which was held November 13. He said that in order to change the situation it is necessary to allocate more money for prescriptions and means of controlling diabetes. 'In Russia only 20% of diabetes patients use high quality insulin, but 80% of patients in Moscow use high quality insulin. To increase the life span of diabetes patients, they must receive higher quality insulin. Less expensive animal insulin or synthetic insulin are not effective,' he said. He added that at the present time human insulin is used primarily on children, teenagers and patients who have heart conditions.

Moscow Chief Endocrinologist Mikhail Antsiferov said that over the last ten years they have been successful in extending the lives of Russian diabetics by 20 years - from and average of 35 years to 55 years. He also said that in Europe and the US, diabetes patients live as long a life as healthy people. Antsiferov also said Russia needs to create a psychological centre for diabetics because 30% of patients suffer from depression.