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Susanna Shahnazaryan

Diabetes on the Rise in Goris: Many Patients Forgo Free Hospital Treatment Out of Embarassment

Of the 930 diabetes patients now registered at the Goris Medical Center in Armenia, 96 receive insulin injections and the rest take other medicines in tablet form.

Meri Khourshoudyan, an endocrinologist, says the real number of diabetes patients is larger since many with the disease fail to register.

“I know of many cases where individuals use home remedies, often relying only on diet as treatment. Others who believe they have a problem prefer to get diagnosed in Yerevan before taking any medication, rather than registering with us and getting the meds for free,” says Khourshoudyan.

She adds that many families are hesitant to bring their sick children into the center for consultation lest relatives and friends find out.

Nurse SiroushEktibaryan, who heads the endocrinology lab at the Goris Polyclinic, says that diabetes cases are on the rise of late, with 12-15 new cases registered every week. She also confesses that many never register, preferring to pay between 5,000-10,000 AMD monthly for outside medication.

Some of them supervise their own treatment by purchasing an sugar measuring device and taking meds accordingly.

When I asked local diabetic patients if they were being providing with adequate free meds at the polyclinic, most didn’t want their names mentioned. Some didn’t want others to know about their condition, while others were afraid that their meds would be cut off if they complained.

Quite a few confessed that they’ve been taking double doses of their prescribed meds because they claim the potency of the free drugs has been substandard these past two years. They go to the local drug store and buy the extra they feel they need.

“There are medications that patients not only complain about but also return,” says endocrinologist Khourshoudyan.

Many patients, she claims, prefer to buy their meds from the drugstore. The physician notes that patients had been receiving French drugs, but are now getting Indian or Armenian drugs instead. As a result patient complaints have risen.

Physicians in general believe that diet and life style changes may be effective in preventing the onset of diabetes. Dietary changes known to be effective in helping to prevent diabetes include a diet rich in whole grains and fiber, and choosing good fats, such as polyunsaturated fats found in nuts, vegetable oils, and fish. Limiting sugary beverages and eating less red meat and other sources of saturated fat can also help in the prevention of diabetes. Active smoking is also associated with an increased risk of diabetes. 

A lack of regular exercise and obesity are other factors that may accelerate the deleterious effects of diabetes.

Sadly, these preventative measures are generally overlooked in Armenia.

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