In Chile, there are more than 300,000 people who have diabetes and don't know it.

There are over 319 thousand people in Chile with undiagnosed diabetes, a condition that can progress silently for years without symptoms, causing damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves, and arteries. The World Diabetes Awareness Day on November 14th calls for action against this condition, emphasizing the theme "in time." Statistics indicate that 12.3% of adults in Chile have diabetes, though 17.1% of those with Type 2 diabetes are undiagnosed. Specialists estimate that nearly 30% of those with Type 2 diabetes in high-income countries and South America/Central America are undiagnosed. The progression of diabetes is linked to insulin resistance, where the body struggles to manage glucose, leading to damage over time. Symptoms like thirst, frequent urination, and hunger can be mistaken for normal aging or stress. Preventive examinations, such as fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin tests, are accessible in Chile. Experts advocate for earlier screening, particularly in primary care, due to the high rate of complications seen in diagnosed patients.

The narrative expertly shifts the focus from managing a chronic disease to emphasizing the urgency of detection and lifestyle intervention, skillfully utilizing personal anecdote alongside epidemiological data. The core tension lies between the established medical protocols for diagnosis (fasting blood sugar levels) and the reality of silent progression that occurs long before symptomatic awareness. The emphasis on "in time" suggests a systemic failure in integrating preventative health checks into primary care settings, particularly given the country's leadership position in obesity rates. A significant implication is the challenge to current screening structures; framing preventive exams as secondary to diagnosis (as they are currently structured) creates an obstacle for early intervention, especially when specialists argue for earlier integration based on weight history. The mention of insulin resistance and the distinction between hyperglycemia and associated risks like dyslipidemia forces a re-evaluation of what constitutes a "healthy" metabolic state, moving beyond simple blood sugar numbers to encompass the interplay of body fat and lifestyle factors. The article’s final call to action, advocating for holistic habit change over singular symptom management, directly confronts the pervasive, often simplified advice found on social media by promoting a complex commitment rooted in self-care rather than immediate fear response.