EGIDE Integrated Care Policy Paper Published
The Expert Group for Integrated Care and Digital Health Europe (EGIDE) – a group of experts supported by Sanofi, whose objective is to enhance chronic disease management through integrated patient pathways and digitalisation of health – presented its Policy Paper on ‘Putting people at the centre – Integrated care for chronic diseases in Europe’. The […]
Cross The Aisle Action
Democrat and Republican lawmakers in the USA have called for bi-partisan policies to expedite diabetes research. Speaking at a Diabetes and The Future of Healthcare Reform event, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) discussed what she saw as some of the obstacles to better care. “What we see in the diabetes realm is a very slow process at the Centers for […]
Half of 20 year-olds in India’s Cities Likely to Develop Diabetes!!!!!
In a month when the headlines suggested half of the population of India will have been infected with COVID 19 by February 2021 (link to a report below), the news that half of all 20 year-olds in India’s metropolitan areas could develop diabetes was somewhat overlooked. The growth of cities on the Indian Sub-Continent has […]
Technology News
Technology News Times’ Number 1 Type 2 Diabetes prevention App https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2020/jul/low-carb-program-ranked-best-health-app-2020.html Flash Glucose Monitoring Could Reduce Duration of Type 2 Hypoglycaemia https://www.medwirenews.com/diabetes/liberates-hypoglycemia-acs-flash-monitoring/18408618
Research Corner
University of Exeter and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust research revealed at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2020 on-line event, suggests screening could give two years’ extra type 2 diabetes alert. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9143/presentation/1514 The findings from a recent study by a University of Buffalo researcher and others could prove to […]
PDGN News
We have 11 members in the Lebanon and our thoughts and good wishes go out to them, their families and friends following the devastating explosion in Beirut where most are based. Oh Vienna! It was a most unusual European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting this year. Technically we were in Vienna, […]
Australia: Type 2 Guidelines for Young People
Guidelines for identifying, preventing and managing Type 2 diabetes among young people in Australian and New Zealand have been published for the first time. Type 2 diabetes in children has been rare but numbers are rising. Consequently, this is the first-time guidance for children and teenagers that PDGN has heard about. Up until now healthcare professionals […]
India: Study Could Lead to More Precise Type 2 Treatments
A study involving over 19.000 people with type 2 diabetes using eight clinically relevant variables including age at diagnosis, waist circumference and HbA1c levels has made a finding that could facilitate a more precise treatment of the disease. The India-based study of people with type-2 diabetes has identified four “clusters”, or novel subgroups of individuals, […]
United States: Pramila’s Bill Approved
Representative Pramila Jayapal’s (pictured) South Asian Heart Health Bill has passed another stage in Congress. As reported during earlier stages, the US House of Representatives has now passed a bipartisan bill aimed at raising awareness about the alarming rate of heart disease in South Asian communities throughout the United States while investing in strategies to […]
United Kingdom: COVID-19 Greater Risk Among Asians
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report showing Asian people are up to five times more likely to contract Covid-19 than white people. The research also found that more than half of pregnant women with Covid-19 are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and warns that BAME communities could […]
Bangladesh: Once-a-Week Injectable Drug for Type 2 Diabetes
Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Ltd (HPL) and Eli Lilly and Company today announced the launch of Trulicity (dulaglutide) in Bangladesh. This is the first once-a-week use, injectable medication designed to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a press release issued to media. The drug comes in an easy to use, single-dose […]
More News From Around The World: Canada
First Nation Children 25 Times More Likely to Have Type 2 A newly released study has found that children in First Nations communities are 25 times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared to other children in Manitoba. The study was conducted by the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) in partnership […]
Advocacy Brings Results
Across the world great strides are being made increasing awareness of diabetes and its comorbidities with some of the most effective actions being taken where cross-party groups operate. PDGN exists to help form such groups and to support them, as well as to assist the advocacy of elected politicians working alone. PDGN members can tap […]
South Africa: Diabetes Behind South Africans Increasing Risk of Vision Loss
Loss of vision due to diabetic eye complications and age-related visual conditions is on the rise in South Africa. Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye, is the leading cause of vision loss globally. The number of people with diabetics in South […]
Benefits of Soybeans in Type 2 Prevention
A leading nutrition expert has urged Nigerians to explore soybeans as a good food source, to alleviate malnutrition and achieve good health. Professor Ibiyemi Olayiwola, Professor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), described soybeans as an excellent source of protein, with the added advantage of being affordable. She noted that […]
Nigeria
Besides Covid-19 where cases approach 60,000 and over 1,000 deaths, Nigeria has a huge burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Covid statistics actually paint an impressive picture for a nation of 200 million people with a comparatively weak health system. The country is suffering from another health crisis that hardly came in the limelight. The […]
Kenya: Fresh Launch for Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage Programme
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (pictured) has said the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme will be launched afresh to serve Kenyans better.UHC, whose pilot phase was launched in December 2018 by President Uhuru Kenyatta. It is intended to ensure all Kenyans have access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services at minimum financial […]
Zimbabwe: Nurses Behind Better NCD Management
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are estimated to account for 31% of total deaths, with diabetes, hypertension and asthma as the main killers in Zimbabwe. The country has been facing a number of challenges most notably in the health sector. Healthcare workers are overwhelmed and doctors, especially in rural areas, are scarce. Millions of Zimbabweans are disconnected […]
Africa News Special
High Blood Pressure and Diabetes top Covid Killers in Africa A World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in 14 countries across Africa found that hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma are the comorbidities most associated with Covid-19 deaths. In Kenya, around half of Covid-19 deaths were of people with NCDs while in […]
Insomnia Recognised as Indicators of Late onset Type 2 diabetes
A new ‘global atlas’ study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) is the first to identify insomnia as a risk factor associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study identifies 34 risk factors that are thought to increase (19) or decrease risk […]
First Audit of FreeStyle Libre
The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) have conducted the first national (UK) audit of one of the increasing numbers of glucose monitoring devices. Studying Abbot’s FreeStyle Libre device they found from 10,000 users across 102 UK hospitals that the system improves control and patient awareness of low blood glucose levels. The report also concludes […]
Heart Attacks Twice as Likely with Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, found that people with diabetes can reduce their risk for heart attacks in half, simply by taking medications designed to prevent them. People with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or die from heart disease compared to people without diabetes. The research results […]
Diabetes and Covid – The Deadly Duo
More studies are being published into the clear link between diabetes and covid-19 and the dangers for people with diabetes who survive the virus suffering severe long-term adverse health effects. Studies from China, UK, Italy and the USA, have shown that people with diabetes have a higher risk of more adverse outcomes from COVID‐19 compared […]
Efpia/IDF
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (Efpia) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) invited PDGN to participate in a Diabetes and Covid event – “the potential of the digital transformation in diabetes care” event. With contributions from IDF, academia and Efpia, the conclusions were the need for accurate up to the minute data […]
The Economist Intelligence Unit
PDGN provided our Secretary General as a panellist to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Expert Panel Meeting on Vertical Integration in Diabetes. PDGN Co-Chair, John Bowis OBE, was also on the panel. Data was a major part of the discussions and the importance of agreeing data standards a key conclusion. More transparent health care systems were […]
PDGN News
Event Reports In recent weeks PDGN has taken part in several on-line events. New Statesman PDGN was invited to participate in a global policy forum on the remaking of the world after coronavirus, organised by the New Statesman magazine. With contributions from the EU Commission, WTO, International Rescue, Parliamentarians and Mayors from the US, UK […]
Research Corner
Obesity Risks The study suggests there is a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes by at least 6 times. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200415185837.htm Studies into Diabetes Genes In the largest non-European diabetes genetics study to date that involved 433,540 East Asian individuals from China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and USA, an international team of […]
Tech News
Help from AI Artificial Intelligence ‘could help identify future diabetes patients’. Scientists have developed a new technology that uses artificial intelligence to predict whether a patient will develop diabetes. The preliminary research, which is yet to be published, applies a method known as machine learning to assess the risk of a person developing the lifelong […]
Scotland: Covid and Diabetes
In the Scottish Parliament, David Stewart MSP made use of his position to ask questions about the correlation between deaths from Covid 19 and people with diabetes. Joe FitzPatrick (SNP), the Minister for Public Health’s reply was: “We know that this is a worrying time for people who live with diabetes. Their safety and the […]
Pacific Islands: Colonialization & Health
An interesting opinion piece about the health consequences of colonialization and how the introduction of foreign diets, illnesses, and economic practices were imposed on the islanders, disrupting native lifestyles, traditions, and even languages. https://instant.com.pk/marshall-islands/142088
Australia: Advocacy Success
CAPTION: PDGN Patron, Hon. Judi Moylan AO (glasses, centre left) with Professor Liz Davis on her immediate left and Professor Greg Johnson on the far left with participants at the launch of the Diabetes in Schools Program at St Peter’s Primary School Western Australia. Advocacy action by Parliamentarians and patient groups in Australia has brought […]
USA: Childhood Obesity
Disappointment has been expressed about the continuing upward trend in childhood obesity in the US despite the programmes that have tried to make an impact. https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireSto ry/us-kids-obese-latest-data-70585816 Targeting Better news from the San Francisco work based prevention programme targeted on people considered at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and who had a Body Mass Index […]
United Kingdom
Body Size Indicator Having a large body size during childhood may increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in later life, particularly when people remain overweight during adulthood. https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/child-body-size-linked-to-risk-of-heart-disease-and-diabetes-in-later-life New APPG Chair Congratulations to Derek Thomas MP (Conservative, St Ives, Cornwall) the new Chair of the UK Parliament’s All Party Diabetes Group. Derek takes […]
World News: Asia
Type 2 Prevalence South Asians have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes, even at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI). This review sets out an hypothesis on the reasons for this. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340319911_Why_are_South_Asians_prone_to_type_2_diabetes_A_hypothesis_based_on_underexplored_pathways
Health Care Disparity Evidence Grows
Appalling disparities in health care have been revealed in several recent studies that the Covid 19 pandemic has magnified. The ‘Center for American Progress (CAP)’ has pulled together research from across the USA showing that it is home to stark and persistent racial disparities in health coverage, chronic health conditions, mental health, and mortality. The […]
When Two Pandemics Collide
Evidence is growing that people with an underlying condition of diabetes are the most at risk of death from Covid 19 and that 1 in 10 patients die within a week. As the virus has made its way around the world the amount of data and number of studies have grown. They show the mortality […]
New Diabetes Technology to Watch for in 2020
A host of new developments are taking place. Tandem’s advanced commercial closed loop system. Insulet’s Omnipod, a closed loop system with a patch pump. Medtronic’s “Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop (ACHL) system”, Abbott’s Libre 2.0 allowing for optional alerts if a patient is out of their glucose range. Dexcom’s G7 launch worked on in collaboration with […]
International Diabetes Federation News
PDGN was delighted that Professor Andrew Boulton and Dr Niti Pall took up the positions of President of IDF Global and Chair of IDF Europe Region respectively, after the General Assembly of IDF in December. PDGN wishes them both every success in all that they do to further the cause of diabetes globally and in […]
Some competing stories about soda and soda taxes
PDGN has produced briefings and relayed stories of members and groups around the world debating and in many cases implementing soda taxes. Taking stick, there are many competing reports and studies with three linked here. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-increasing-soda-prices-discourage-people-from-drinking-it https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/23/norwegian-sugar-tax-confectionery-border-sweden?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/the-global-soda-tax-experiment
Another Successful Pollie Pedal for Diabetes
*Pollie is Australian slang for Politician CAPTION: Greg Johnson CEO Diabetes Australia, Guy Barnett MP, Caroline Wells CEO Diabetes Tasmania and Michael Bailey CEO Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry The 15th annual Tasmanian Pollie Pedal, held in February, was another great success raising just over Aus $49,000 – exceeding their target of $45,000. The […]
Industry’s Role in Singapore’s War on Diabetes
Three years after Singapore officially launched its War on Diabetes campaign, with the aim of ‘mobilising the whole nation’ to tackle the condition, this article assesses how the food and beverage industry has been a key ally in the battle. https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2020/01/20/Singapore-s-War-on-Diabetes-How-industry-has-played-a-key-role-in-government-s-health-battle
Research Corner
Much of the research and studies make for grim reading with the implications for people and health care systems severe. All the more important to seek allies who can share and add force to your advocacy to seek improvements to prevention, encourage early diagnosis, and the best treatments. Effects of Physical Activity on Type 2 […]
PDGN People: Number three – Sir Michael Hirst
CAPTION: Current International Diabetes Federation (IDF) President Professor Andrew Boulton (left), catching up with PDGN Co-Chair and a former IDF President Sir Michael Hirst PDGN has three Co-Chairs; Chris Delicata, John Bowis OBE and here the third, one of the founders of PDGN, Sir Michael Hirst tells of his interest and involvement. My interest in […]
Surge in Diabetes-Related Limb amputations
A study published by Diabetes UK records a surge in toe, foot and leg amputations among diabetes patients. New analysis by Diabetes UK found that there were 27,465 lower limb amputations related to diabetes in England from 2015 to 2018, an increase of 18.3% from 2011 to 2014. Its analysis also shows there were hundreds […]
New Role for PDGN Vice-President
Former Maltese Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil has been appointed Secretary General of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), and will have to resign from Parliament. Sadly, as he will no longer be a serving parliamentarian, he will also have to give up his Vice-President role within PDGN. The former MEP has become the Chief of […]
PDGN News: First PDGN European Parliament Meeting
CAPTION: Some of the attendees around MEP host Jane Brophy with PDGN European lead Claudette Buttigieg and PDGN Co-Chair Sir Michael Hirst. With the help of outgoing UK MEP Jane Brophy on the last day of UK participation in the European Parliament, PDGN held a presentation for Members of the European Parliament to encourage greater […]
US Political Action on Diabetes and Comorbidities
CAPTION: U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th District and, is the first South Asian American woman elected to Congress. Writing in ‘The Hill’ about the health challenges facing South Asian Americans, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and global health expert Gayathri Badrinath called for action to address the lack of awareness about the unique and growing heart health risks […]
News From the USA
Ohio State Senator Campaigns to Cap Insulin Prices The continuing issue of high insulin prices in the USA is being raised and tacked by politicians at State and Federal level. In Lakewood, Ohio, the State Senator for the area, Nickie Antonio, has successfully seen parts of her proposal to combat diabetes pass through the Senate […]
Type 2 Breakthrough Treatment
A “breakthrough” treatment plan for type-2 diabetes has been reported in the British press suggesting that the UK National Health Service (NHS) is keen to adopt a new standard of treatment. The course of treatment consists of a liquid diet of 800 calories to be taken as a soup or shake daily for a period […]
4.8 Million in UK With Diabetes
The number of people living with diabetes reaches 4.8 million, people with type 2 diabetes are 50% more likely to die prematurely and Diabetes UK is urgently calling on Government to tackle obesity. New analysis from Diabetes UK shows that 3.9 million people are currently living with a diagnosis of diabetes, and 90% of those with […]