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Pregnancy Diabetes

Prevention, Screening, and Therapy

Pregnancy diabetes increases the risk of later type II diabetes in women and child

In overweight women, the risk of diabetes increases regardless of pregnancy. Compared to women of normal weight, the diabetes rate was 3.6 times higher for overweight (BMI 25-30) and 15 times higher in Grade II obesity (BMI 35-40).

Every kg above normal weight increases type II diabetes risk by 16%

In particular, the risk increases to later diabetes (30 – 43 times); is shown in women with BIM >30 and gestational diabetes, when the weight gain was more than 5kg.

With a previous weight reduction of at least 2.5kg, the diabetes rate could be reduced by about 20%.

Bao W., Yeung E. et al. Long-term risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in relation to BMI and weight change among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study Diabetologia.2015 Jun;58(6):1212-9.

The obesity of pregnant women also significantly increases the frequency of high birth weight of the child (2-3 times more common macrosomia).

The diet form during pregnancy (composition or quality), as well as the excessive weight of the child already during the fetal period and after birth, show a programmatic influence on the early childhood development in the womb, and above it, a formative influence on the later development of obesity and a higher risk of diabetes type-II in the child.

Remember also, early childhood nutrition has an impact on the child’s risk of obesity. For example, breastfeeding leads to a reduction in the risk of developing obesity in later childhood, or adulthood compared to non-breastfeeding. (DGE currently 01/2009) Infants breastfed with breast milk later develop 20% less overweight and 25% less obesity. The benefit is better the longer breastfeeding has been. Each month of additional breastfeeding time (up to 7-9 months) the subsequent risk of obesity decreases by 4%. ( Koletzko 2011 / 2012/ 2013) The lifestyle in childhood and adolescence has a decisive influence(the behavior of the family plays a major role).

Adequate treatment of gestational diabetes can prevent excessive birth weight (macrosomia “large for gestational age”) but note that alone is not enough to prevent later obesity if the parents are also obese.

The study data are inhomogeneous for later obesity and diabetes in children. Numerous studies have shown this link, but some have not shown significant figures.

Since, in addition to lifestyle factors, genetic factors play different roles in the development of overweight and obesity in mother and child, which cannot be adequately corrected in statistical analyses, different correlations can be convincing.

The higher numbers of children born too large and too heavy are 2-3 times more often with maternal obesity and gestational diabetes; and obesity is a very relevant factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (prediabetes), from which manifest type 2 diabetes if this persists for years. Depending on the form of mother hyperglycemia during pregnancy, the later risk of diabetes in children increases between 11 and 21% compared to 4% in children of women without diabetes or gestational diabetes (Clausen 2008).

Early screening – control by gynecologists – is very important!

Early screening for the risk of gestational diabetes should be carried out as early as the 1st trimester (in the first third of pregnancy) – between the 24th until the 28th week of pregnancy. For risk groups, the screening should be carried out much earlier.

For practical reasons, the fasting blood sugar and, if there is a suspicion of risk, the HbA1c value are determined in pregnant women.

The risk increases with the insufficiency of glucose metabolism; this can best be tested via the oral glucose load test (OGT). The fasting blood sugar level is a screening test that is not as reliable as the OGT, but since it is more complex, the general checkup during pregnancy will be done with the fasting blood sugar test and expands the determination of the HbA1c value in certain cases.

In more overweight pregnant women and also in already signs of metabolic syndrome (for which the doctor should look), an oral glucose load test is recommended; the analysis ofHbA1c (“blood sugar long-term value”)is not as meaningful for early detection, it is better used for therapy control after observed sugar metabolism disorders (insulin resistance and high blood sugar level).

Clausen TD, Mathiesen ER, Hansen T, et. al. High prevalence of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes in adult offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus or type 1 diabetes: the role of intrauterine hyperglycemia.Diabetes Care.2008 Feb;31(2):340-6.

Since important functions and thus risks for the future are developed during the early imprinting (starting 1000 days of life from development in the womb), but the influences in early childhood can still change a lot, the study results should be interpreted accordingly with foresight.

The influences on the metabolism of the child and in terms of increased body weight make the process of risk formation plausible.

In terms of weight gain or calorie requirements, all pregnant women should not eat twice as much(“for two”) but “twice as good”.

Obese women should reduce their weight as much as possible in enough time before planning their pregnancy!

Extreme weight loss diets during pregnancy are not recommended. An overweight pregnant woman, however, should have a lower weight gain during pregnancy.

It is best to lose weight before pregnancy. For women with adiposity, a weight reduction of 5-10% of the starting weight before pregnancy can have a significant positive effect on the health and reduce some risks. From: Diet and lifestyle during pregnancy Thieme reprint 2018 (German Journal)

To a pregnant woman with a starting position at a normal weight, a recommended pregnancy weight gain is between 11 – 16 kg. While it should be slightly more kilograms in underweight women, overweight should increase significantly less (see Table 1). The later risk of overweight in women and in children increases more with higher weight gain and especially if women were already overweight before pregnancy.

Research Journal Obesity 2016 Volume24, Issue7; Goldberg, Gail R. Nursing Standard (through 2013); Rasmussen National Academy Press, 2009; RF Goldstein, JAMA. 2017; Margerison Zilko CE, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Volume 202, Issue 6, 2010, The normal weight gain during pregnancy is calculated based on the following factors • At birth your baby weighs about 3.300g. • During pregnancy, the uterus increases significantly by about 900g • The placenta weighs around 600g • Breasts are about 400g heavier. • The blood volume increases by 1,200g. • The extra fluid in the body has a weight of about 2,600g. • About 2,500g are for more fat reserves that provide additional energy for breastfeeding. Nutrient and energy requirements during pregnancy The nutrient and energy requirements are increased during pregnancy, but not so much that the women must eat for two. The motto is: not twice as much, but twice as good! The need for some micronutrients increases more than the energy requirement. Only in the last pregnancy months the energy requirement just about 10% higher than before pregnancy. In the second trimester of pregnancy, the energy requirement is about 250 kcal per day higher than beforeand in the third trimester (last 3 months), the demand is 500 kcal per day higher if the physical activity remains unimpaired. Many women, however, in the last months of pregnancy have significantly reduced physical activity, so then no increased energy intake is needed.

Overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes – risks for mother and child

The increased intrauterine sugar supply (glucose and fructose) leads to increased fetal insulin secretion. From fetal hyperinsulinism, diabetic fetopathy can develop.

Excessive amounts of insulin have a growth-enhancing effect e.g. on white fat tissue and thus an increased birth weight (macrosomia “large for gestational age” – birth weight above the 90th percentile; 4 kg and more).

The blood count (hemogram) can deteriorate (worse circulatory conditions and higher cardiovascular loads), and also a worse fetal surfactant formation can be the result(surfactant is important for lung development immediately after birth); thus, there may be more postnatal respiratory disorders up to respiratory distress syndrome. Overall, the risk of premature birth with further known complications increases.

For example, studies in Sweden from 1991 to 2003 show that in case of gestational diabetes, the risk of being born before the 37th week of pregnancy is 68% higher (Fadl 2010).

Fadl HE, Ostlund IKM, Magnuson AFK, et. al. Maternal and neonatal outcomes and time trends of gestational diabetes mellitus in Sweden from 1991 to 2003. Diabet Med.2010 Apr;27(4):436-41.

Early in pregnancy occurring diabetes can lead to malformations of the infant’s heart or even death if it’s undetected and thus untreated.

Under the diabetic metabolic situation of pregnant women, higher amniotic fluid production is more often observed. These and the macrosomic fetus (large or overgrown fetus) can overstretch the uterine wall so that the birth often threatens weeks too early. Furthermore, the mother is more often seen with the so-called pregnancy toxicosis (EPH gestosis Edema – Proteinuria – Hypertension; and also accompanying often liver damage. This is a high risk for the mother and the child. You can also see more urinary tract infections, which also increases the risk of premature births.

Even if there are no complications mentioned above, numerous further complications during childbirth are increased for mother and child. Also, treatments or monitoring in intensive care units in the hospital are necessary.

Risk for mother and child in case of gestational diabetes

Increased preterm birth rate, or infant death or malformations of the heart
Need for postnatal monitoring and therapies in intensive care
Increased need for cesarean delivery
Risk of difficult childbirth (birth stoppage; broken collarbone, shoulder dislocation, etc.)
Hyperbilirubinemia (due to impaired liver function)
Similarly, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia after birth – and if hypoglycemia is detected too late, potentially permanent brain damage.
Increased birth weight, with increased risk of later obesity and diabetes
Women with gestational diabetes have a significantly increased risk of preeclampsia (pregnancy- toxicosis).
Women with gestational diabetes have a 50% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the long term.

Prof. Dr. Werner Seebauer is Dean of Studies – Association of German Preventologists, Head of Preventive Medicine Department of Institute of Transcultural Health Sciences (European University Viadrina) and Head of Preventive Medicine – NESA (The New European Surgical Academy). Since 2000, prof. dr. Werner Seebauer worked only in preventive medicine, after ten years spent at the Frankfurt University Hospital. He is also involved in the medical professionals training for nutrition and prevention.

MediHelp International contributes to the medical science development and is actively involved in the international social responsibility advocacy.

Fatigue – what are the reasons?

Stress and fatigue are possibly our best buddies nowadays. We are kind of trying to eat healthily and have eight hours of sleep per day, yet nothing seems to be working. We wake up in the morning feeling as if we had not slept at all, lacking the energy to get out of bed, let alone get any work done. Are you looking for a way to summon the strength to live? I have just the solution for you. The source of this energy lies with certain little organelles found in almost every cell in our body and called mitochondria.

What exactly are mitochondria?

It is within the mitochondria that the source of our vital energy lies. They produce ATP, which is the energy currency that our body can use to buy anything it needs: regeneration, longevity, a healthy immune system, and an efficient nervous system; in a nutshell, our tissues can swap this currency for health. Mitochondria, our energy-producing factories, are also responsible for managing the cellular life and death process, and consequently they are also indirectly in charge of our life and death. Therefore, we should become friends with them, especially when we consider that they make up 10% of the weight of our body.

How do we improve the mitochondria factory work processes?

There are several ways to do this. A lifestyle in which we find the time for physical activity, while at the same observing certain calorie intake restrictions, can improve the quality of our mitochondria. I recommend a low-sugar diet and periodic fasting. Intermittent fasting could be a particularly attractive solution here. The idea is that we set a number of hours during the day, i.e. a window, during which we eat, while fasting outside of that time. I try to eat between 10 am and 6 pm only. And I feel great. As far as our lifestyle is concerned, physical activity is also crucial. It exercises not only our muscles, but also the mitochondria. Implementing these simple rules can protect us against diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, cancer, and dementia throughout our lifecycle. And mitochondrial disorders are exactly what lies at the root of all the chronic diseases! It is also important to eliminate hazards such as heavy metals and other toxins capable of finding refuge in our bodies. I fell a victim to them a while ago myself. I struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome, where something as basic as just climbing the stairs to the first floor was an enormous challenge for me. I decided to check what was happening to me and found that some heavy metals, such as mercury and arsenic, settled in my body. It took a long treatment with intravenous chelation and removing the uninvited guests from my cells for my energy to finally return. This is just one of the threats to mitochondria, and there are quite a few of them; however, there are just as many ways to support them.

For mitochondria to work properly, you need a number of substances such as minerals (Mg, Se, Fe), vitamins (B group), cofactors (particularly the Q10 coenzyme), as well as phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine. Polyphenols and curcumin are great for our mitochondria too. Sometimes, when our diet lacks these substances, informed supplementation is recommended.

Don’t wait for the future. You can take action today! See our medical plans and register for your next check-up.

Krzysztof Majdyło is a medical doctor specializing primarily in the treatment of chronic diseases (e.g. Lyme disease), modern diagnostics, and personalized therapies supporting oncological treatment. He trained at the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center in New York with Dr. Richard I. Horowitz, one of the most experienced ILADS physicians in the world. He is the owner and head of the medical team at St. Luke’s Clinic in Gdańsk, where the personalised approach to the patient developed at the Clinic complements other modern supplementation solutions.

Probiotics: a necessity or a fad?

It has been said increasingly over the recent years that probiotics should be used not only during antibiotic therapy, but also in many other instances in our lives. Can good bacteria actually contribute to boosting our health?

As much as 75% of the immune system is housed in our intestines, which is why probiotic bacteria have a truly enormous impact on its maturation.

By introducing beneficial strains to the intestines, we are able to support and aid a huge part of our immunity, while failing to take proper care of our bacterial flora can lead to damaging our body’s natural defence system. This is acutely important in the time of an epidemic when we should be looking after our immunity with particular care.

The studies carried out by nutritionists and scientists in the recent past have yielded further unexpected observations indicating that the composition of the microbiome can make it harder or easier to lose unnecessary kilograms.

It is often said that stress has a big impact on our intestines, which actually is the case. The composition of the intestinal microbiome in people suffering from chronic stress very often leads to inflammation of the intestines and consequently to an increasing number of autoimmune diseases. The entire process starts with a disturbance of the intestinal microflora which reacts to prolonged and severe stress, just as it reacts to antibiotics. Elaborating on the topic, we could name other effects of stress, such as depression.

Mental disorders are also closely linked to the volume, lack or growth of specific bacteria in the intestines, and the fairly well-known serotonin, 90% of which is generated by properly working intestines and the microorganisms that reside in them.

These are just a few examples of how the bacteria in our intestines affect our health.

It is worth noting that a different probiotic with a different composition would be necessary for each of the abovementioned issues. It is always worth seeking the advice of a specialist as to choosing the right probiotic therapy and possibly testing your own microbiome to find out what repair strategy to implement.

We know that “treating” the intestinal microbiome will play an important role in the medicine of the future.

Don’t wait for the future. You can take action today! See our medical plans and register for your next check-up.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

The entire world has been struggling with the COVID-19 epidemic since the very beginning of last year. Fortunately, there is now hope of getting the situation under control: a vaccine for coronavirus. Scientists started working on developing an effective product as early as January 2020, and in the end it took them less than a year to create the vaccines. Which is precisely what causes the public’s concern. Can the COVID-19 vaccines be safe when they have been produced in such a short period of time? Today’s article provides the answer.

A coronavirus vaccine in Poland.

The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be one of the topics that provoke heated discussions. The following vaccines are now available in Poland:

Pfizer,
Moderna,
AstraZeneca.

The COVID-19 vaccines – are they safe?

Many among the Polish population, however, have doubts as to whether getting vaccinated against coronavirus is worth their while. They mull over the safety of the products and are anxious about possible postvaccination reactions and side effects.

The issue that gives rise to most distress is the short time it took to develop the vaccines. It is often heard that usually the process takes up to several years. It is worth noting, however, that it took the commitment of hundreds of scientists from all over the world to developed the COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, the budget allocated to achieving the goal was truly impressive.

And there is one more thing to keep in mind. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly because the research teams used a technology that had already been in place. RNA vaccines have been studied for nearly thirty years now. The work carried out in the past involved other coronaviruses, and thus the vaccine production process was available and ready at the very beginning of the pandemic.

Is it sensible to get vaccinated against COVID-19?

Of course it is! As virologists, doctors and scientists around the world assert, all the available vaccines against coronavirus are safe. Each of them was subjected to appropriate clinical tests that have clearly confirmed compliance with the applicable safety and efficacy standards. COVID-19 is an insidious disease; its course varies between patients, and it is dangerous for many of them, as are its complications. Missing out on a vaccination is not worth the risk!

What do the Poles know about immunity?

What’s the Polish way to boost one’s immunity during the epidemic?

It would seem that in the time of the epidemic the subject of immunity should become a critical concern. After all, we are bombarded with expert opinions, slogans such as “take care of your immunity”, and advertisements and commercials for one “immunity focused” remedy after another.

In February 2021, a survey was carried out amongst 1115 adult Poles. I would like to share some of the findings below.

The Poles are aware that the immune system is crucial in the battle against viral and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, at the same time they do not realize that a healthy immune system is also essential to protecting oneself against cancer, autoimmune diseases (e.g. Hashimoto, rheumatoid arthritis, MS), and allergies.

Respondents were asked to list factors that adversely affect immunity, and this was where they showed fantastic knowledge and understanding of the issue. They listed stress, physical inactivity, stimulants, poor diet, sleep deprivation, air and water pollution, overuse of antibiotics and highly processed foods.

Unfortunately, we cannot exactly be proud of this result as in fact all of this knowledge is not being turned into action.

More than 60% of respondents do nothing (sic!) for their immunity. They know what lifestyle would be most beneficial to their wellbeing, alas, they’re failing to practice what they preach.

Furthermore, the survey also brought to light a certain confusion of concepts. The covering of the mouth and nose with a mask is named first amongst the ways to boost the immune system, with hand-washing coming in second. Undeniably, those are vital measures to be taken in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, they do nothing for our immune systems. Are we fooling ourselves? “If I wear a mask, I don’t have to do anything else.”

The last finding I would like to share here is a list of immunity-boosting supplements. Nearly 50% of our fellow citizens know about Vitamin D3. That’s probably the effect of an ongoing long-term campaign. Regrettably, only 25% of us know about Vitamin C, with other supplements being mentioned only marginally. Personally, I am shocked that probiotics have not been brought up at all. I think there is a lingering stereotype here that probiotics are a “shield” used during treatment with antibiotics. We are not aware that there are scientifically tested immunogenic probiotics that strengthen the immune system. In my daily medical practice I teach my patients that healthy intestines are a “university of immunology” and health comes from the stomach. I would like this knowledge to become universal across Poland.

Dear Reader, take your time to consider two questions to finish off now.

Firstly, do you know how (through lifestyle changes and supplementation) to improve your immune system?

Secondly, are you going to turn this theoretical knowledge into action?

Stay healthy!

Krzysztof Majdyło, MD

MediHelp at the time of the Corona

– A message from President Zahal Levy –

We are now one year into “a new life” influenced heavily by Covid-19.

As prospects for a world-wide recovery still seem uncertain, It may now be a good time to look back and assess what happened, as well as to share with you my ideas of what may still happen.

The pandemic is a phenomenon that has hit every part of the globe and re-shaped our lives in several ways. It may not even be clear yet how we’ve changed and what we have learnt as human beings and as professionals. The new situation has prompted creativity in all of us and made us adapt to the changing circumstances. We do not have a choice; we shall all need to grow and create a new viable reality.

As for me, just like yourselves, my life has suffered some interruptions of different kinds, and I have done my best to cope with the changing environment. Some of it relates to private issues, but in this article, I would like to share with you some of the actions taken at MediHelp-companies to cope with the situation.

Our new Assistance (customer care) company dealt with diagnosed customers with COVID-19. We did all we could to stand by them, and to adapt the terms and conditions of our existing insurance plans (made before the COVID-19 pandemic) to the new situation. There were cases of hospitalization, medical care and also cases of air ambulance lifts to save lives. As this was going on all through 2020, we had to manage in providing our regular service to our customers. Customers with chronic diseases could continue to get their medical assistance, medical attention and private medical care were claimed for as before. MediHelp and MediSky teams in all countries answered all the requests, and claims were covered with no delays.

At this point, I need to convey a warm word of thanks to our staff, as it has not been an easy time for them. They needed to cope with this extra workload while working from home. The best was done for our customers so they felt everything was being operated as it had been before COVID-19.

We gave our customers the confidence that the new health risk was covered by our policies. We were the first to do this!

Before us, In all Central-Eastern Europe there was no health insurance provider that had announced that they were covering all coronavirus-related issues. Even though at that time we weren’t sure what this move would mean for us and what risks this would entail, we said it very clearly that we cover all Covid-related costs and provide full support to our customers.

I can very proudly say that the rest of the market followed us.

We received a lot of calls from customers about vaccination, questions about where they can get medical care for Covid. Unfortunately, we could not offer them any solutions as in every country where MediHelp companies are present, all assistance and vaccination related to the coronavirus are carried out through public healthcare.

Customers who were in a foreign country or who got stuck somewhere could count on us to get all medical help that they needed at any location. Customers could call us 24 hours a day – either during office hours, or outside them through our emergency lines. We have managed to maintain our very good response times for paying claims or to arrange guarantees of payments to medical centres around Europe and elsewhere. We have all the infrastructure to assure that no technical glitches would thwart a customer in obtaining medical care through our system at any time.

Naturally, taking good care of our employees was also an important task. As we began to see that our teams were experiencing difficulties dealing with family issues and illnesses at home, full support was offered to them and the choice to work either from home or in the office was and still is offered. We reassured our teams that their decision will in no way jeopardize their status at work.

Working from home means that our employees must work with the same efficiency as before. That was not always easy. But we could see how we adapt and accept during calls or zoom meetings seeing the face of a little kid, a cat or a dog wandering around the house. We accepted all these with a smile as these are all reflections of the beauty of life.

I am proud to say that we haven’t laid off any staff in these extraordinary times.

We have not reduced their workload and we have not cut their salary either. On the contrary: we have taken on new employees to strengthen our offices, customer service and sales.

We are aware that the future is still not clear, and that the coronavirus is not behind us yet. We have started working on new insurance plans and creating adaptations to the new situation. There will be changes in the medical environment and further underfinancing of the health systems. Our national health systems will find it hard to provide medical care to all its citizens, so it is a call for MediHelp to work on some new features and service platforms which will help us adapt to the new and on-going changes in the world.

MediHelp has reached an agreement with a company affiliated with MasterCard, and all our customers will soon receive a debit card with which they will be able to pay their claims. It means that if you are our customer, you will have a debit card loaded with “MediHelp money”, so you can pay your medical expenses with our money in real time. You will no longer need to wait until we pay your claim. There will be no such thing as a ‘claim’ (valid for small and medium size claims which are the majority of the paid medical events).

MediHelp customer will be able to share your invoice on a message, and we shall load the money on your MediHelp-Card, which is in your possession, so you will be able to pay the medical provider on the spot. We are practically entering a new world with this development.

Wait… there is more…

We are building the MediHelp Academy. The MediHelp Academy is an academic online platform for insurance education, divided into zones. There will be space where our employees will be able to study Health-Insurance and about the national health systems. We shall help them understand the profession we are in.

Insurance brokers, alternatively, will be able to learn how to sell, and train their employees.

There will also be a zone for visitors, where people from all walks of life will be able to enter the Academy and gain an understanding of what the problems are in the health system in their own country. For those who are interested in protecting their family or their employees, there will be easy access to our insurance plans.

Last, but definitely not least, we are going to introduce a new medical device: an ECG the size of a credit card, with which our customers will be able to transmit their ECG results via their mobile phone in real time. A doctor on the other end will be able to immediately check the results of the ECG and provide a first opinion about their condition. It will cost, of course, but it will provide the customer the luxury of being able to instantly submit an ECG readout and then get medical advice without leaving their home. It will be a worldwide coverage.

As you can see, despite all the difficulties and challenges COVID-19 has brought into our lives, MediHelp has not stopped developing and progressing. We have been working and will continue to do so to ensure that our customers feel there is an increasing value for the money they have invested in their health through the insurance plans of MediHelp.

Finally, I would like to wish you all wishes for the coming Easter holidays, and wishes for good health.

Zahal Levy

MediHelp President

Corona Virus Topics Screening and prevention

INFECTIONS CAUSED BY THE NEW CORONA VIRUS COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS SARS-COV-2) SCIENTISTS ARE STILL SEARCHING, AND A LOT IS STILL UNKNOWN. WE SEE ONLY THE “TOP OF AN ICEBERG” AND NOT THE TOTAL EXTENT.

The research priorities focus now on epidemiology (how the transmission is, how factors cause the infection), the diagnostics (how to detect and find the true extent of the virus’ spread), and at this point, how is the best practices of managing the illness. Parallel intensive research on pathology and virulence, therapy and vaccination are going on.

Currently the testing capacities aren’t adequate. It will take weeks until we have adequate testing capacity. If screening is carried out, procedures would also have to be used which permit reliable detection.

Professor Lipsitch of epidemiology and director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics stated that “recent modeling suggests that most countries’ screening procedures for travelers miss two-thirds of people with COVID-19 symptoms”.

With infected people symptoms such as fever, dry cough, runny nose and fatigue, as well as breathing problems, sore throat, headache and body aches and chills have been reported. Some suffer from nausea and diarrhea. The symptoms of the disease vary widely, from asymptomatic courses to severe pneumonia with lung failure and death. This is all relatively unspecific with symptoms that can also be attributed to other diseases. There are numerous infected people who have no symptoms so far and will not get sick either. We don’t know at this state how the virulence and severity for the healthy people is.

So, we don’t know how many people are already or will be infected. But it’s seems to be a serious infection on the global few and (probably or maybe?) more dangerous than normal flu. The good news is, that the more people who have contact with the virus over time, probably the more immunity will result. This is mainly because the virus genetics does not change (so far it looks like this).

Note: The discovery of new virus variants reveals some very virulent and highly damaging viruses, but fortunately also some viruses that are less harmful and some against which immunity develops.
The corona virus variant, which had caused SARS infections (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in China at the end of 2002 and 2003, was not harmless, but it disappeared absolutely in May 2004, even without a vaccine being developed, and the diseases or organ damage could only be treated symptomatically.

We don’t have vaccines for very many viruses, but there are various viruses or new discovered virus variants, where the absolute majority of those, who are already infected, are still undetected because the majority probably have unspecific uncomplicated symptoms – and of course are not tested in this way.

So, with the new Corona variant, we don’t know with certainty how many people are or will be infected and how many develop a serious illness after infection. This is difficult to estimate and evaluate this well at the current state, because global too few people have been examined yet respectively not so many have been infected so far that one could say this statistically for the entire population (for the healthy persons outside the risk groups). As the number increases, this will be easier to assess. As usual, the risk group will be particularly more affected; these are the older or immunodeficient people and those who have not been healthy before.

GROUPS OF RISK

Due to the higher number of cases, at this state it is only possible to give somewhat better assessments for China so far.According to the WHO, four of the five (80%) of the registered infections so far have been mild. In some of the patients, the virus can lead to a more severe course with breathing problems and pneumonia.

From the data from China, the highest risk for a serious disease and even death is seen for people over the age of 60 and people with underlying diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and respiratory, liver and kidney diseases and cancer. Most of the deaths occurred in China in the over 80 ages (men more often than women).

According the previous data (of the WHO), the disease appears to be comparatively rare in children and then to be mild. Also, pregnant women do not appear to have an increased risk of developing a serious illness.

Especially immunocompromised people (sick and elderly) should be particularly careful.

Important measures

It is very important to take the hygiene of the hands seriously (consequent handwashing and disinfection if necessary) and to avoid the close contacts to potentially infected (that means first to people with respiratory diseases).

As long as the infection chains are not known sufficient, caution should also be exercised where more infections can occur in public places (these are the same sources as e.g. for flu).

Important measures for the personal protection as well as the protection of other persons against the infection with respiratory infections.

In addition to frequent hand washing (good hand hygiene) is helpful:

if you have some symptoms, first contact the doctor by phone,
stay at home from work when you are sick
contact the hospital straight away if you are seriously ill
be careful coughing and sneezing – in the crook of the elbow
and keep a minimum distance (approx. 1 to 2 meters) of suspected persons
avoid contamination through the hands, no hand should be given in greetings
if possible, avoid public places where many people come together very closely (e.g. buses or trams, etc.)
reduce travel to and from stricken areas – reducing or avoiding travel by plane, ship, etc., if not necessary
it can help to wear a mouth-nose protection by coughing and sneezing person, also by person with fever, (e.g. a surgical face mask)* to reduce the risk of infecting other people with droplets (protection of other people, but no secure protection!). For optimal effectiveness, it is important that the protector is properly seated (i.e. constant worn close-fitting) and changed when wet.
For your own protection against infection from airborne transmission (by other coughing or sneezing people) only special virus protection masks help, which then must be changed several times a day. Such will be needed in medical practices or hospitals.
*a normal mask (surgical mouth and nose protection mask) may reduce your own infection, but there is no evidence for this (by information of the WHO); so a special virus mask is different to this.

Of course, the topics of preventive medicine count here, because health means much more than the absence of illness – in other words, a very potent immune defense, which is determined by many factors of an optimally functioning organism, is important for the health anyway.

So, in addition to hygienic precautions – minimize massive contacts with sources of infection, the motto is to live healthy to strengthen the immune system :

in terms of good balanced nutrition (see the recommendations in the context of healthy nutritional composition – Issue food pyramid)
avoid pollutants – especially avoid smoking – also passive smoking, and of course other pollutants,
promote metabolism (therefore adequate physical activity, healthy sport, etc.)

Closing schools and events or workplaces where larger groups can come together can help and is to be considered to affected areas for the first phases of virus’ spreading. But this should be made consequently (often more than possible) and it’s difficult to decide how long it is necessary, because the usual time of incubation may not be sufficient. It is currently assumed that the incubation period can be up to 14 days, according to the WHO it is on average 5 to 6 days.

When get kids back to school and people back to work? There may be severe economic losses or other burdens on normal medical care that must be guaranteed for other reasons.

The goal of such restriction like quarantine or closings, is to flatten the infection curve, which slows down the spread; and the systems – especially the health facilities can be better adapted to the supply bottlenecks.

However, with a highly virulent virus that remains asymptomatic in many people experience has shown that this cannot reliably prevent the spread. Spread usually runs unless immunity develops in the population or another reason weakens or eliminates the virus. As the SARS example from 2004 showed, the pandemic has ended even without a vaccine.
Usually when enough people will have been infected or vaccinated, the rising immunity in the population slows the epidemic.

Public health managers just want to slow down the spreading in this first phase and improve the chance over the time, to have a vaccine, or to be able to better estimation, where the infection is rather harmless or where it has to be rigorously precaution.

It will not be sustainable that you try so rigorous for long time to close facilities and cancel events where a lot of people can meet – this is only for limited time possible.

It’s a serious thing and seems to be more dangerous than normal flu, but we still don’t know several facts about it. So far it shows that most people won’t get serious sick, we certainly don’t need to have to panic as some are doing now.

On the same hand, we want to ensure you that our health insurance is the best way to have peace of mind. Check out our plans for private health insurance here.

Technologies of the future are already changing our healthcare

Digitisation undoubtedly has a huge impact on people’s health and physical fitness. New technologies translate into the improved quality of life of millions of people, and they affect the entire healthcare sector and its employees.

As far as medicine is concerned, the last 100 years were a time of great achievements. The evolution of hygiene practices, discovery of penicillin and introduction of mass vaccination programs are all successes for which we should be grateful to our predecessors. It is generally accepted that only at the beginning of the 20th century life expectancy was less than 50 years. In 2019, the figure for European Union states stands at over 64 years for women and 63.5 for men.

The modern technologies currently named as those that could potentially revolutionize our healthcare include genomics, 3D printing and telemedicine. The following article is aimed at presenting news on specific technological advancements which in the future will perhaps become a part of our daily life.

Genomics is a field of science that, with the help of increasingly modern computers having ever greater computing power, enables us to study DNA in detail. This gives us the opportunity to personalize medical treatment, which in turn significantly improves the effectiveness of the therapies applied. Genome analysis enables us to achieve an in-depth identification of individual predispositions, diseases, limitations and talents. Genome sequencing is one of the most effective ways to detect and treat cancer.

Telemedicine is increasingly often presented as an alternative to “face-to-face” doctor consultations. Mobile technologies enable us to take some weight off the healthcare system, decrease the number of visits to the doctor and thus shorten the queues. However, telemedicine is of greatest importance to communities without access to medical facilities. A remote health assessment means an opportunity for the poorest and most deprived to take advantage of healthcare services. Telemedicine equipment enables medical staff to monitor the patient’s health on an ongoing basis and carry out preventive tests and check-ups, and give patients access to their test results without having to appear at a medical facility.

Source: www.hbrp.pl

Cellular engineering enables us to “grow” miniature organs using a patient’s DNA. Different treatments are then tested on them. The ability to observe the effects of treatment at cellular level gives specialists an insight into what works best before a patient actually undergoes a given therapy. Currently, cellular engineering finds a wide range of applications in the treatment of burn wounds and other injuries.

Big data has been used in medicine for several years now. Access to ever greater data resources means it is possible to carry out more thorough comparative analyses of patient cases. Collating and comparing data on people having similar lifestyles, professional background and even DNA enables us to better understand associated health risks and how they might affect different treatment. Access to a huge amount of data enables scientists to choose the best medication. Sharing data between pharmaceutical companies has recently led to a significant discovery. It was proven that desipramine, an antidepressant, might potentially be used in the treatment of lung cancer.

3D printing is a technology the use of which in treatment of various diseases is becoming more and more probable. Using DNA, we can now develop personalized organs such as lungs, liver and bones. This will certainly affect the status quo for many patients, for whom the only rescue is to have an organ transplanted from a donor. Low-budget solutions that have significantly affected the lives of many people are prostheses, in particular prosthetic arms created for children. Manufacturers rarely offer children’s prostheses. The costs are significant and the prosthetic device has to be changed frequently because of the owner’s growth. The printing of a 3D prosthesis costs up to a maximum of $150, while manufacturer prices start at $9,000.

Source: www.forbot.pl

The role of social media and online forums in the assessment of doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities is immense. Patients are increasingly often looking for opinions on specific places and specialists expressed by other Internet users through social media and online surveys. This information is also used by healthcare professionals to identify any issues within the healthcare system. Social media allow the spread of information in near real-time, thus forcing healthcare professionals to react quickly.

Medical robots allow surgical operations to be carried out with a great level of precision and reduce the time required for recovery following a surgery. They really shape the entire process. For example, surgical operations performed in the past by a three-person team can currently be carried out by one single doctor controlling the robot. The use of this technology affects the quality of treatment.

Source: www.rynekzdrowia.pl

Technological advancement is noticeable in nearly all areas of life. We are therefore not surprised by either the new solutions that are already applied at hospitals and other facilities or those that are only talked about for now. Perhaps in the future modern technologies will enable us to extend our life expectancy by maybe even a dozen years.

Medical second opinion – what is it and who should be seeking it?

It is estimated that as many as 18 million people developed cancer in 2018 only. A cancer diagnosis turns the world upside down for the patient and their family. An illness as serious as this leaves no room for errors. Which is why it is worth obtaining the so-called medical second opinion.

According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide die each year because of incorrect medical treatment. The WHO data shows that as many as 40% of patients globally are subjected to suffering and harm while in outpatient care. In turn, as far as hospitals are concerned, the figure stands at 10%. Medical errors are made in many areas, including misdiagnosis, prescription of unsuitable medication and referrals for unnecessary treatments.

MEDICAL SECOND OPINION – WHAT IS IT?

A medical second opinion gives you an additional medical consultation on your diagnosis and treatment plan. Time, correct diagnosis and putting together the most effective treatment plan possible are of essence when fighting a disease. It is not unreasonable to have doubts as to your treating physicians’ credibility immediately after being given the diagnosis or during treatment.

When faced with an illness as serious as this, you want to be certain that the diagnosis given was correct and the actions taken were suitable. Alas, the statistics show that one in eight oncological patients is misdiagnosed. An error like this prevents patients from receiving personalized therapy.

A medical second opinion will give you an insight beyond the standard information available through the state healthcare system. You will be able to learn about the latest diagnostic methods and up-to-date therapies that can be applied, thus becoming able to carefully manage your treatment. Moreover, reliance on an independent source of knowledge will enable you to assess your treating physicians’ competence, as a result of which you will be able to ensure that you are provided with proper care.

It is important that as part of your medical second opinion you seek comprehensive information on the different advanced therapy options available in Poland and abroad. This is the only way to make certain that you are provided with the most effective treatment. If you are diagnosed with a rare type of cancer or told that there are no effective therapies available to you in Poland, a medical second opinion will help find a solution for this difficult situation.

MEDICAL SECOND OPINION WITH MEDISKY

All MediSky insurance holders are provided with a guarantee that, when necessary, they will be able to seek a medical second opinion and consult the best specialists around. MediSky gives you the opportunity to directly contact international oncology opinion leaders and scientists.

All MediSky customers obtain the right to use the services of NESA, an oncological advisory board that brings together leading specialists from as many as 57 countries. Many of NESA’s members are oncological surgery experts and scholars of a variety of related disciplines.

The NESA platform gives all of MediSky customers access to NESA expertise. Patients are able to submit medical reports and other documents relating to any oncological condition for review and seek a medical second opinion. This is a service created by MediSky specifically for its customers to provide them with the assurance that the diagnosis given to them is correct and that suitable treatment is planned and undertaken.

Detailed information on medical second opinion with MediSky can be found here: https://www.medisky.pl/anti-cancer-living/second-opinion/

Cancer treatment abroad

It is estimated that at the moment cancer is the second leading cause of death in Poland. It is most likely that in a few years’ time it will move to the first position on that inglorious list. Approximately 160 000 people are given the cancer diagnosis each year, out of which nearly 95 000 die. 175 000 Poles will be given this diagnosis by 2025.

With cancer—irrespective of the type or the stage of advancement—time is key in treatment of the disease. The earlier a diagnosis is provided and the sooner treatment begins, the higher the chance of achieving a best possible outcome. Unfortunately, the Polish state healthcare system frequently fails in this respect.

As per the policy objectives set by Poland’s Ministry of Health, a maximum of 8 weeks should pass between the patient coming to see a doctor and a diagnosis being provided. However, the cumulative average time for cancer diagnosis exceeds this limit, with patients sometimes having to wait in line for months to begin their therapy.

Statistics say that the level of healthcare expenditure is of enormous consequence as far as the effectiveness of treatment is concerned. Amongst the 27 EU states, Poland holds a distant 24th position here. Countries with a high level of healthcare expenditure are successfully treating as many as one-third of cancer patients more than those with the lowest expenditure.

STATE-OF-THE-ART TREATMENT STILL ONLY AVAILABLE ABROAD

Doctors admit that Poland’s state healthcare system fails to provide cancer patients with access to the latest therapies available. As stated by the Alivia Foundation— which analyses data collected from the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia), the National Cancer Registry (Krajowy Rejestr Nowotworów) and the Agency for Healthy Technology Assessment and Tariff System (Agencja Oceny Technologii Medycznych i Taryfikacji) —it is only in the case of malignant ovarian cancer that treatment provided in Poland meets the latest medical standards. This means that patients undergoing treatment for the remaining 99 diseases classed as cancer are still forced to make do with the now somewhat outdated therapies.

A 2017 report by the Supreme Audit Office (Najwyższa Izba Kontroli) revealed that up to 70% of cancer drugs are not available to patients in Poland. This mainly refers to the state-of-the-art therapies.

On average, innovative cancer drugs become available in Poland as late as 2 years following their introduction to the market. For the sake of comparison, patients in Germany will usually have to wait for them for up to 3 months, while in Austria it will be up to 5 months.

Even when a given medication is included on the list of reimbursable drugs, its availability in Poland tends to be much lower than in the remaining EU states. This is mainly due to the fact that the very restrictive rules on who—and to what extent—is eligible to use them are set by the Ministry of Health as opposed to consultants.

CANCER INSURANCE POLICIES ARE THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

Cancer treatment means expenses of a mammoth scale. For instance, one monthly chemotherapy cycle applying drugs for lymphocytic leukemia represents a cost of as much as PLN 80 000. It is not surprising then that the vast majority of patients rely on treatment funded by the National Health Fund.

This is the reason why cancer insurance policies are becoming increasingly popular—they cover the cost of treatment at medical facilities (state-run and private) located in Poland and across Europe. Treatment abroad means access to the latest therapies and drugs for the insured person.

This in turn translates into a better prognosis and a greater peace of mind, which can be additionally improved by undergoing therapy with a psychologist—also funded under the policy.

MediSky cancer insurance coverage is provided under three different policy options, each of them ensuring access to treatment by the best consultants in Poland and abroad.

In addition to doctor consultations, the insured person has access to—without incurring any extra cost—laboratory tests, cancer surgical treatment, as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The full range of benefits available under the individual policies can be found here: https://www.medisky.pl/anti-cancer-living/light-plan-for-cancer-coverage/

Category: Stay healthy