Dynamics of a disabled population in Morocco

BACKGROUND: The disabled population constitutes a class of people needing special care and necessitating important economic and social effort. METHODS: In this paper, using specific parameter settings, partial differential equations are used to model the temporal change of the proportion of the disabled population in Morocco. RESULTS: Combining different forms and values of the parameters, a numerical method is proposed and three scenarios are considered. These forms and values are determined by data fitting and simulation. CONCLUSIONS: The experiments show clearly the dynamical evolution of the disabled population with time and age according to each scenario

A mathematical model for the burden of diabetes and its complications

BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of diabetes are increasing all over the world. Complications of diabetes constitute a burden for the individuals and the whole society. METHODS: In the present paper, ordinary differential equations and numerical approximations are used to monitor the size of populations of diabetes with and without complications. RESULTS: Different scenarios are discussed according to a set of parameters and the dynamical evolution of the population from the stage of diabetes to the stage of diabetes with complications is clearly illustrated. CONCLUSIONS: The model shows how efficient and cost-effective strategies can be obtained by acting on diabetes incidence and/or controlling the evolution to the stage of complications

Management of type 2 diabetes: a challenge for patient and physician

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, associated with serious complications and co-morbidity and considerable costs. The number of people with diabetes mellitus is expected to increase with 40% in the next decade, due to prolonged life expectancy, the ageing of the population and developments in the health care sector, including more active screening strategies. The majority (40-60%) of type 2 diabetes patients in routine GP practice have a poor metabolic control (HbAlc > 8% or fasting blood glucose > 11 mmol/l). In this paper the obstacles in routine clinical practice for optimal type 2 diabetes care are discussed. Long-term complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes patients. Therefore, the primary aim of type 2 diabetes management is the prevention of complications, by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing the cardiovascular risk profile. An important component of type 2 diabetes management is an active role of the patient: diet, smoking habits, physical exercise and self-care behavior often need to change. In addition, the patient has to adhere to life long medical therapy. Motivating the patient for this active role is the challenge for health care providers. A complicating factor is that changes in lifestyle do not give immediate benefit for the patient, as the effects are seen in the reduction of the development of long-term complications. The cornerstones of health care to support active patient participation are: to guarantee the continuity of care, to integrate education in health care and to encourage the patient's attendance. It is the challenge for physicians to give type 2 diabetes patients the tools for active participation in the management of the disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Management of type 2 diabetes:a challenge for patient and physician

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, associated with serious complications and co-morbidity and considerable costs. The number of people with diabetes mellitus is expected to increase with 40% in the next decade, due to prolonged life expectancy, the ageing of the population and developments in the health care sector, including more active screening strategies. The majority (40-60%) of type 2 diabetes patients in routine GP practice have a poor metabolic control (HbAlc > 8% or fasting blood glucose > 11 mmol/l). In this paper the obstacles in routine clinical practice for optimal type 2 diabetes care are discussed. Long-term complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes patients. Therefore, the primary aim of type 2 diabetes management is the prevention of complications, by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing the cardiovascular risk profile. An important component of type 2 diabetes management is an active role of the patient: diet, smoking habits, physical exercise and self-care behavior often need to change. In addition, the patient has to adhere to life long medical therapy. Motivating the patient for this active role is the challenge for health care providers. A complicating factor is that changes in lifestyle do not give immediate benefit for the patient, as the effects are seen in the reduction of the development of long-term complications. The cornerstones of health care to support active patient participation are: to guarantee the continuity of care, to integrate education in health care and to encourage the patient's attendance. It is the challenge for physicians to give type 2 diabetes patients the tools for active participation in the management of the disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved