It is estimated that 1.14 million Belgians have type 2 diabetes, yet a third of them are unaware of it

According to Arnout Wouters, type 2 diabetes is particularly dangerous if left untreated or poorly treated. “If detected in time, you can adjust your lifestyle and diet. Medicines can also help. But if not done, it can lead to serious complications, such as heart failure, kidney failure , blindness and amputation of a limb.”

He also points out that the complications resulting from type 2 diabetes are costly to social security. “Today, the treatment of diabetes and the problems that result from it costs 5.82 billion euros for Social Security. 94% of this sum is devoted to the treatment of complications, only 6% to drugs. Investing in prevention can therefore mean huge gains for society.”