Riesgo de diabetes mellitus tipo II en adultos de las parroquias Rivera y Pindilig, período noviembre 2024-abril 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a major challenge for healthcare systems, affecting approximately 552,000 people in Ecuador, and these figures are projected to increase in the coming years. The main contributing factors are preventable conditions, such as obesity and an unbalanced diet. However, up-to-date information on these factors is lacking, particularly in rural settings, where there is limited knowledge of the etiology of the disease. Objective: To determine the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adults in the parishes of Rivera and Pindilig from November 2024 to April 2025. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional observational study was conducted using probability sampling and the FINDRISC questionnaire, a widely validated tool for identifying individuals at risk of developing diabetes mellitus in the coming years. Results: Based on the FINDRISC assessment, the following levels of risk for developing diabetes mellitus were identified: low risk (44.0%), slightly elevated risk (22.5%), moderate risk (14.7%), high risk (13.7%), and very high risk (5.2%). Conclusions: In the parishes of Rivera and Pindilig, most participants were found to have a low risk of developing T2DM. However, the findings indicate that more than half of the participants had a moderate to very high risk, associated with the high prevalence of overweight, increased waist circumference, low levels of physical activity, and unhealthy dietary habits. These findings highlight the need to prioritize preventive interventions in these communities. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, risk factors, blood glucose, prevention