MILAN (ITALPRESS) – The Lombard tour of “Io Prevengo” ended in Milan, in Piazza Duca d’Aosta, the travelling initiative promoted by Lilly to make cardiometabolic prevention accessible, free and close to citizens. After crossing the main provinces of Lombardy, the truck of health arrived in the capital for the last stage, confirming the goal of promoting early diagnosis and promoting greater awareness of the correct lifestyles.
The project is part of the approach to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina 2026, of which Lilly is Sponsor, with the ambition to leave a concrete legacy in terms of health and prevention for the territory.
Cardiometabolic diseases – which include diabetes, hypertension, obesity and related cardiovascular diseases – are one of the main challenges for public health. Strong adherence to the “I Prevengo” initiative confirms the importance of bringing prevention directly between people, lowering barriers and facilitating access to screening. Today there are over 1900 free screenings provided through the initiative promoted by Lilly, with a clear female prevalence, equal to 65%. Participation is mainly concentrated in the age group between 30 and 65 years (61% of total); followed by over 65 (22.8%) and under 30 (4.6%). From the territorial point of view, the highest number of performances was found in Monza, with 659 overall screening, followed by Bergamo (494), Pavia (467) and Varese (364).
In Milan and its metropolitan area, approximately 240.000 people with diabetes are estimated, including both diagnosed cases and those that have not yet emerged. At the same time, more than 40% of the adult population is overweight, equal to approximately 1.3-1.5 million individuals.
These data highlight the importance of strengthening early prevention and diagnosis activities in large urban centres such as Milan, where the impact of cardiometabolic risk factors is particularly relevant. Within the mobile clinic, completely accessible, citizens can carry out free rapid and non-invasive examinations, including body mass index (BMI), life circumference, capillary glycemia, lipid profile, lipoprotein (a), blood pressure and haemoglobin (HbA1c). Custom nutritional advice and educational activities will also be available to promote healthy lifestyles.
“Prevention must start long before diagnosis. Initiatives such as “I Prevengo” are fundamental because they help people recognize risk factors and adopt healthier lifestyles – says Federico Bertuzzi, Director of the Diabetic Center at ASST Grand Metropolitan Hospital Niguarda in Milan – Today we have effective tools to intervene early, but it serves greater awareness: information, screening and prevention can really make a difference in reducing the impact of diabetes and more generally of cardiometic diseases.”
The final stage of Milan took place institutional representatives and the world of sport, witnessing the importance of making a system for health promotion.
“With “I Prevengo” we wanted to bring prevention out of the walkers and into the daily life of people. The final stage of Milan represents not only the conclusion of a path, but also a starting point to continue spreading a culture of accessible, concrete and participatory health”, says Federico Villa, Associate Vice President Corporate Affairs & Patient Access Italy Hub of Lilly.
“Initiatives like this show how important it is to invest in prevention and proximity medicine. Bringing free screening in the squares means early intercepting the needs of citizens and strengthening a health model increasingly close to people,” he said,states the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana.
Also present at the event Sofia Goggia, Olympic champion and symbol of sports values: “Sport has taught me that health is the basis of every performance, but above all of every personal balance. The collaboration with Lilly arises from a shared vision: to put the person, the well-being and prevention at the centre. Training, listening to your body, taking care of yourself every day are principles that apply both to an athlete and to anyone. I think sport can be a powerful cultural engine, able to inspire healthier behavior and a greater awareness: because the real victory is to live well and for a long time, not only to compete”.
“Io Prevengo” is supported by a network of institutional sponsors and collaborations with associations of civil society, which enhance its scientific and social dimension. AMD (Associazione Medici Diabetologi), ADB (Associazione Diabetici Bergamaschi), ADB (Associazione Diabetici Provincia di Brescia), the Association Amici Obesi Onlus, CLAD (Coordination Lombardy Associations).
– Lilly press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
