NOVA Medical School, in collaboration with the Fundamental and Translational Research Group (GIFT) of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology, celebrated World Diabetes Day with great success on November 15th. The dissemination activity, held at the Biblioteca Arquitecto Cosmelli Sant'Anna, in Lisbon, brought together a medical doctor, two biomedical scientists, a nutritionist and researcher in the same field, a researcher in the field of sports, and a patient with diabetes, herself a researcher in diabetes for an engaging discussion aimed at increasing health literacy of this metabolic disease.
The event, entitled "World Diabetes Day - Disclosure Session", allowed the open exchange of ideas in an informal and relaxed environment between experts and the local population. The session covered several topics, including the origins of the different types of diabetes, lifestyle modifications to prevent the disease, treatment approaches and the most recent scientific advances in the area. Moreover, the potential of solutions generated by artificial intelligence were debated, myths and problems of the day-to-day life of people with diabetes were demystified.
The speakers at the session, moderated by Maria Serrano from the Communication and Marketing team, were Ana Raimundo, representative of people with diabetes and researcher at research group Molecular Nutrition and Health; João Raposo, medical doctor, professor e principal investigator from Metabolic Diseases Research group (MEDIR), Clinical Diretor of Associação Protectora dos Diabéticos de Portugal (APDP) and President of Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia; Maria Paula Macedo, professor e principal investigator of Metabolic Diseases Research group (MEDIR); Marta Silvestre, nutricionist and researcher of Nutrition: Clinical Research group and CUF; Sílvia Vilares Conde, professor e principal investigator of research group Neuronal Control of Metabolic Disturbances: Therapeutic Strategies, all from NMS; and João Magalhães, researcher of Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, all contributing with valuable perspectives from their respective areas.
During the same week, similar conversations took place in Porto, Leiria, Coimbra and Vila Real. These sessions across the country represent a significant step in promoting awareness and understanding of what diabetes represents in the health of the population. Our School's participation in the "Dia Mundial da Diabetes - Sessão de Divulgação" initiative is an example of our scientific community's commitment to bringing scientific health discussions closer to society.
Event details: NOVA Medical School's World Diabetes Day Commemorative Session.