Prof. Zozulińska-Ziółkiewicz with the main prize Health Visionary 2024: A person with diabetes gets a second life today

Prof. Ph.D. n. med. Dorota Zozulińska-Ziółkiewicz is the head of the Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases and Diabetology at the Medical University of Poznań, and the past president of the Polish Diabetes Association.

“An exceptional, empathetic doctor, an excellent scientist. A volcano of energy: when she is not working, she rides a bike, because she believes that if she recommends physical activity to patients as an element of therapy, she must lead by example. She is a multiple Polish Doctors' Mountain Biking champion. Organizes the Polish Football Championships for Children and Youth with Diabetes, and the Polish Championships for Cyclists with Diabetes. Her team conducts a number of studies that have shown that physical activity can lead to inhibiting the development of type 1 diabetes. She organizes the Modern Diabetology Forum, during which there is a lot of talk about new products and the dynamic development of diabetes, including how to use artificial intelligence in the care of patients. Through her activities as the President of the Polish Diabetes Association, she led to revolutionary changes in the treatment and care of people with diabetes in Poland, including: to achieve reimbursement of many new drugs,” said the laudation.

After receiving the award, she emphasized that today, thanks to modern methods of monitoring diabetes and effective medications, a diabetic patient “gets a second life”: he can fulfill his dreams, achieve the highest professional achievements, and even Olympic medals. However, it is very important to quickly diagnose diabetes and determine what type of diabetes it is. It is also important that the patient receives appropriate education and treatment to enter clinical partial remission, which protects him from the development of diabetes complications.

-The progress that is currently being made in diabetes therapy, including technological progress, gives a chance that young people with diabetes can pursue their dreams and passions, and have a chance to live to a ripe old age – said Prof. Dorota Zozulińska-Ziółkiewicz.

She also pointed out how much the approach to the disease has changed. – Diabetes used to be a barrier to studying at the University of Physical Education, but today that era has passed. The recommendations of the Polish Diabetes Association, which are updated every year, include physical activity. There are also recommendations for qualifying people with diabetes to practice sports. If you have diabetes, you can do sports – said prof. Dorota-Zozulińska-Ziółkiewicz.

– I encourage patients to practice sports the way they like. It could be a bike, tennis. For me, skiing used to be the closest thing, now it's cycling. Any sport is good, as long as you like to do it. Although if we look at the aspect of life extension, team games are the best, she said. She emphasized that the so-called “exertional snacks”, such as running to the tram or running up the stairs.

While expressing her gratitude for the Wizjonerzy Zdrowia award, she emphasized that the most important thing in a doctor's work is that you can help the sick with your work.