Addressing Social and Cultural Drivers of Type 2 Diabetes is Key to Its Treatment and Prevention

PR75524

BERLIN, October 2, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

      New research shows healthcare services and public health strategies aimed

at reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes may prove ineffective, unless they

address social and cultural factors.[1] Researchers linked factors such as food

traditions and traditional gender roles to increasing vulnerability to diabetes

in cities[1], where three-quarters of people with the disease are set to live

by 2045.[3] The findings from the Cities Changing Diabetes research were

presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study

of Diabetes (EASD 2018) in Berlin, Germany.

    "For many years, diabetes has continued to rise at an alarming rate despite

the best efforts of policymaker and healthcare providers," says David Napier,

professor of Medical Anthropology at University College London (UCL). "In order

to turn the table on this devastating and costly disease, we need to think

differently and adopt new approaches. When public health strategies and

individual care plans take into account the prevailing local cultures and

associated conventions and behaviours, they are much more likely to be

successful."

    Fuelled by rapidly increasing rates of obesity, diabetes could affect one

in nine adults by 2045 - more than 730 million people.[2] Within the same time

frame, annual diabetes-related healthcare costs are expected to increase by 39%

from 775 billion US dollars to more than 1 trillion dollars, further

highlighting the urgency for action.[4]

    Within their findings, researchers pointed to a number of social and

cultural factors contributing to the rise of diabetes in cities around the

world, including:[1]

    - In Copenhagen, standard medical referral practices acting as barriers to

preventive care and services for diabetes

    - In Houston, food traditions becoming entwined with heritage and culture

and often being perceived as providing 'comfort'

    - In Mexico City, traditional gender roles limiting effective self-care in

male-only households, as some men are unable or unwilling to provide diabetes

support to others

    A second study presented by Cities Changing Diabetes researchers at EASD

2018 demonstrated that rates of diabetes and obesity are accelerating in every

region of the world today. North America and Europe, where obesity has been

rising for decades, are expected to have the highest future type 2 diabetes

prevalence but also the slowest future increases.[5] Africa, on the other hand,

is projected to see a near-threefold increase in the number of people living

with diabetes as the population ages and obesity prevalence increases.[5]

Achieving a 25% reduction of obesity prevalence on the continent would result

in 15.3 million fewer people with type 2 diabetes in 2045.[5]

    "Whether it's by initiating door-to-door care provision, relocating clinics

within urban communities or through enabling peer support among religious faith

groups, the many partners in the Cities Changing Diabetes programme are already

acting to great effect on these research findings," said Niels Lund, vice

president for Health Advocacy, Novo Nordisk. "However, halting the rise of

diabetes requires others to learn from their approach and to develop strategies

that reflect local needs. To this end, the Cities Changing Diabetes programme

is an open and inclusive partnership in which anyone with a stake in the

prevention and treatment of diabetes is welcome to participate."

    About the studies

The first study carried out Vulnerability Assessments in five highly diverse

cities - Copenhagen, Houston, Mexico City, Shanghai and Tianjin - to assess the

impact of cultural factors on vulnerability to type 2 diabetes. This included

traditions and conventions, health beliefs and food practices, gender

attitudes, and local practices to care seeking. Using semi-structured

interviews, assessments were conducted with a total of 740 people.[1]

    The second study investigated the regional prevalence of type 2 diabetes

from 2017-2045, using past and target trend scenarios. The past trend scenario

assumes that future increase in obesity prevalence is extrapolated linearly,

and in a target scenario obesity prevalence is reduced by 25% in 2045. BMI data

for all countries worldwide 2000-2014 were obtained from the Non-communicable

Disease Risk Factor Collaboration, and the share of people in each age and BMI

class were projected depending on scenario.[5]

    About Cities Changing Diabetes

Cities Changing Diabetes is a first-of-its-kind partnership programme with an

ambitious global goal to reduce obesity by 25% so that only 1 in 10 people live

with diabetes by 2045. More than 100 local partners - including city leaders

and ministries, academia, diabetes associations, health insurers, community

groups and business corporations - collaborate across disciplines and in new

forms of public-private partnerships to map the diabetes problem, share

solutions and drive actions to bend the curve on urban diabetes.

    The programme was initiated in 2014 by three global partners: University

College London, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen and Novo Nordisk. Today, 17

cities representing more than 130 million citizens are active partners:

Beijing, Beirut, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Hangzhou, Houston, Jakarta,

Johannesburg, Koriyama, Leicester, Mérida, Mexico City, Rome, Shanghai,

Tianjin, Vancouver and Xiamen.

    About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 95 years of innovation and

leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and

capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, haemophilia,

growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark,

Novo Nordisk employs approximately 43,100 people in 79 countries and markets

its products in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit

novonordisk.com, Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/novonordisk], Twitter

[https://www.twitter.com/novonordisk], LinkedIn

[https://www.linkedin.com/company/novo-nordisk], YouTube

[https://www.youtube.com/user/novonordisk/custom]

    References

    1. Volkmann A-M, Hesseldal L, Bagger M, et al. Local traditions and

conventions impact vulnerability to type 2 diabetes. Abstract presented at the

54th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes

(EASD), Berlin, Germany; 1-5 October 2018.

2. Moses A, Lund N, Jensen BB, et al. Illustrating the pivotal role of obesity

as a driver of diabetes. Abstract presented at the 25th European Congress on

Obesity (ECO 2018), Vienna, Austria; 23-26 May 2018.

3. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 7 ed. Brussels,

Belgium: International Diabetes Federation; 2015.

4. Cities Changing Diabetes. Diabetes Projection Model, Global. Data on file.

Novo Nordisk. In: Incentive, ed. Holte, Denmark; 2017.

5. Nielsen S, Napier D, Jensen BB, et al. Regional burden of obesity and

diabetes in adults - projections from 2017-2045. Abstract presented at the 54th

Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD),

Berlin, Germany; 1-5 October 2018.

    Further information     

    Media:     

Katrine Sperling, +45-4442-6718, krsp@novonordisk.com     

Lykke Lyngso, +45-3075-0211, lyly@novonordisk.com

     Investors:     

Peter Hugreffe Ankersen, +45-3075-9085, phak@novonordisk.com     

Anders Mikkelsen, +45-3079-4461, armk@novonordisk.com     

Valdemar Borum Svarrer, +45-3079-0301, jvls@novonordisk.com

SOURCE: Novo Nordisk