2024 Volume 51 Issue 5 Pages 450-456
Given that the key role of health checkups is the early detection of disease, it is particularly important for examinees to receive medical consultation immediately after a checkup. Encouraging medical consultations due to hyperglycemia is one of the most important responsibilities of the Japan Society of Health Evaluation and Promotion, whose mission is to prevent diseases, maintain, and promote the health of the nation. The number of people with diabetes in Japan is steadily increasing each year, and is predicted to reach approximately 20 million people. The 2019 National Health and Nutrition Survey found that 19.7% of men and 10.8% of women are strongly suspected of having diabetes. The percentage of these patients who are currently not under treatment is 25.5% (male, 21.4%; female, 29.6%). Therefore, it is necessary to encourage these individuals to start diabetes treatment. In particular, the lower rate of treatment among people in the working generation is a great problem. The Japan Society of Health Evaluation and Promotion must collaborate with multiple health check institutions to accurately understand the number of untreated diabetic patients and improve the rate of medical consultation among individuals with hyperglycemia. In addition, prejudice against diabetes will be eliminated through stigma reduction and advocacy activities, so that diabetic patients can more easily receive treatment and care. This paper reviews the current situation, challenges, and recent advocacy activities related to diabetes, in order to encourage the members of the Japan Society of Health Evaluation to improve the medical consultation rate among individuals with hyperglycemia.
