The Public University of Navarre (UPNA) is taking part in a European Union-funded project the goal of which is to examine the benefits of a programme which will enhance the quality of life of the over 70s who suffer from Type II diabetes. In carrying out this research, a total of 17 institutions - from Spain the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Belgium - are participating and the first official presentation of the project will take place at an event on the 19th of April, 2012 at the UPNA. This first presentation of the programme will be attended by representatives of all the institutions which will hold a meeting at the Tudela Campus of the UPNA in order to launch the project and draw up a calendar of activities.

The research project, funded within the VII European Union Framework Programme, aims to analyse the benefits of a programme of intervention based not only on the classic control of glucose and blood pressure, but also on the improvement of functional skills and the quality of life of elderly people suffering from Type II diabetes.

In concrete, what will be analysed is the effect of a multicomponent programme based on clinical control, physical exercise and diabetological education on the quality of life and the fragility of this group of patients. Also to be evaluated is the effectiveness that this kind of multicomponent intervention has on health-related costs, the index of hospital admissions and the cost linked to the care of such patients, in comparison to the clinical intervention currently practised.

* Elhuyar translation, published in www.basqueresearch.com