The Doctor José Molina Orosa Hospital in Lanzarote has expanded its Endocrinology and Nutrition Department in response to a growing number of patients with diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders.

The move comes as diabetes continues to affect a significant proportion of the population in Spain. It is estimated that around one in seven adults (14%) is living with the condition, although many people remain undiagnosed.

The hospital has increased the number of endocrinology specialists from four to six, while also recruiting a third diabetes specialist nurse and four healthcare support assistants.

The expansion follows a steady rise in demand for specialist care. In 2025, the department carried out 9,087 medical consultations, compared with 7,607 in 2022, an increase of more than 19%.

The biggest rise was in first-time appointments, which increased by 46%, allowing more patients to be assessed sooner and reducing waiting times for specialist treatment.

Helping patients manage diabetes

Nursing appointments have also continued to increase, rising from 2,852 consultations in 2022 to 2,971 in 2025.

Diabetes specialist nurses play a vital role in helping patients manage their condition by providing education and ongoing support. This includes training on:

• Insulin pumps.
• Continuous glucose monitoring systems.
• Healthy eating and lifestyle changes.
• Preventing long-term complications.

Good diabetes management can significantly reduce the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage and vision loss.

New specialist clinics

The additional staff have also allowed the hospital to introduce new specialist services.

These include a dedicated thyroid nodule clinic, designed to speed up diagnosis and follow-up care, as well as a new Obesity and Nutrition Clinic for patients with complex medical needs.

The obesity service will support people preparing for bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, along with patients living with neurodegenerative conditions or digestive cancers who require specialist nutritional care.

Improving long-term care

Elena Jerez, head of the hospital's Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, said the additional staff will help provide more specialised, multidisciplinary care, with a strong focus on educating patients so they can better manage diabetes themselves.

Meanwhile, Lanzarote Health Services manager Pablo Eguía said the investment strengthens the hospital's ability to meet the growing demand for treatment and improves coordination between primary care and hospital services.

With diabetes and obesity continuing to become more common across the Canary Islands, the expanded service aims to provide earlier intervention, better long-term care and improved support for patients living with chronic metabolic conditions.