The community program Diabetes em Movimento (Diabetes in Motion), aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, is one of the initiatives developed in Portalegre. Resulting from a partnership between ULS Alto Alentejo (through UCC Ammaya), the Portalegre Municipal Council, the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, and the Directorate-General of Health, the program integrates physical activity into diabetes treatment. Sessions, held three times a week with exercise professionals and nursing supervision, are free upon clinical referral and aim to improve disease control, prevent complications, and promote autonomy.
In 2026, the ULS also reinforced its capacity for diabetic retinopathy screening through a partnership with the Lisbon School of Health. The population-based campaign is underway in the district's Health Centers, bringing early diagnosis closer to people with diabetes. This screening is crucial, as diabetic retinopathy can progress asymptomatically in its early stages, making it vital for preserving vision.
The response to diabetes also includes clinical follow-up and health education. The ULS has a Functional Diabetes Unit at Hospital Doutor José Maria Grande and conducts information initiatives within the community. Additionally, nurse Katia Augusta Xavier Furtado from ULS Alto Alentejo participated as an expert in developing the DGS's national guideline on the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot.
The common goal is to prevent complications, promote autonomy, and provide an increasingly integrated and accessible response to people living with diabetes in the Alto Alentejo.
