👉🏼 In this episode we were joined by psychologist Angie Álvarez, a psychologist who has found an opportunity to work professionally in providing psychological care to patients diagnosed with diabetes in Panama.

🧐 Health Psychology is defined as the branch of Psychology oriented towards the prevention, promotion, teaching, evaluation, intervention and research of the psychological factors involved in disease processes. Diabetes, being a chronic disease, the psychology professional can perfectly contribute greatly within the interdisciplinary team in the process of accepting and coping with the disease.

🧠 According to sources from the Social Security Fund (October 2023), approximately 300 children suffering from diabetes are treated at this hospital, highlighting that cases are increasing. Factors such as diet, physical activity lifestyles, and genetic factors may be factors that can increase the risk of suffering from the disease.

🙌🏻 In this capsule, Psychologist Angie Álvarez spoke to us about the importance of providing people recently diagnosed with diabetes in the country's hospitals with emotional tools from the moment of diagnosis, so that patients and their families can better manage, understand and cope with the grieving process that often occurs as a result of changes in the family's life.

🧐 Likewise, psychologist Angie Álvarez advised the population that in Panama the Diabetes LATAM Foundation offers programs to children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes that allow them to train and empower themselves in the management of their disease.

👉🏻 More psychologists are required to see that mental health focused on chronic diseases is an area of great need to progressively improve the quality of life of people in Panama and other countries in the region.