The aims of the research project proposal are to determine the prevalence of diabetes in subgroups of the population with certain characteristics (age, gender, socioeconomic status, geographical area of residence), to estimate the proportion of those patients with diabetes treated without drugs, to estimate the proportion of the patients in which diabetes is not yet diagnosed, and to develop a proposal and recommendations for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs for the prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes.

The assessment of the proportion of people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and their characteristics will be made for the first time in Slovenia. People with unrecognized chronic illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, represent those individuals with the greatest burden of the disease, both in health and, for example, in financial and psychosocial aspects. Undertaking approaches to reducing the proportion of people with an unrecognized chronic disease is therefore one of the greatest health and society challenges in the next decade, as it is an indispensable measure to ensure the sustainability of the health system and to ensure the well‐being of society. The final task of this proposal for the research project is the development of a report that will include a proposal and recommendations for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs for the prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes, which will represent the so‐called. evidence‐informed policy making. 

Project duration: 1.11.2019 - 28.2.2021 

Project leader:

Prof. Dr. Ivan Eržen, MD

Participating organizations:

• National Institute of Public Health
• Nutrition Institute 

Financing:

• Slovenian Research Agency 50 % [SICRIS]
• Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia 50%

Project goals:

• determination of the prevalence of diabetes in subgroups of the population with certain characteristics (age, gender, socioeconomic status, geographical area of residence);
• estimation of the proportion of those patients with diabetes treated without drugs;
• estimation of the proportion of the patients in which diabetes is not yet diagnosed; 
• development of a proposal and recommendations for the development, implementation evaluation of programs for the prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes.