Social determinants and diabetes
[Editor's note: Romey is one of ProCor's new interns and someone you will be hearing more from over the next few weeks]
Dear ProCor community,
A recent editorial in the Lancet highlighted the challenges of the relationship between social determinants and the challenges to diabetes prevention. Because of its associations with obesity and physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes is broadly misconstrued as a “disease of affluence.” This misconception is illustrated by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, in which neither diabetes nor related chronic diseases are mentioned. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority (73%) of people with diabetes live in low to middle income countries. Even in high-income countries, type 2 diabetes is most prevalent among the poorest citizens. Dealing with diabetes is an integral step to combating many chronic diseases, even those of a communicable nature. In fact, people with diabetes have three times the risk of acquiring tuberculosis; diabetes is also the only major risk factor for tuberculosis that is expected to increase in the coming decade. Growing rates of type 2 diabetes can largely be attributed to increasingly “obesogenic environments” around the world. Such an environment is characterized by inactivity and diets rich in processed, unhealthy foods. In order to combat obesity, this interview recommends the implementation of a “broad range of policy measures” to improve the environments that people live in, making them more conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
"Social determinants of diabetes and challenges of prevention"
The Lancet 2010; 375(9733): 2204-2205 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960840-9/fulltext?_eventId=login
Dear ProCor community,
A recent editorial in the Lancet highlighted the challenges of the relationship between social determinants and the challenges to diabetes prevention. Because of its associations with obesity and physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes is broadly misconstrued as a “disease of affluence.” This misconception is illustrated by the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, in which neither diabetes nor related chronic diseases are mentioned. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority (73%) of people with diabetes live in low to middle income countries. Even in high-income countries, type 2 diabetes is most prevalent among the poorest citizens. Dealing with diabetes is an integral step to combating many chronic diseases, even those of a communicable nature. In fact, people with diabetes have three times the risk of acquiring tuberculosis; diabetes is also the only major risk factor for tuberculosis that is expected to increase in the coming decade. Growing rates of type 2 diabetes can largely be attributed to increasingly “obesogenic environments” around the world. Such an environment is characterized by inactivity and diets rich in processed, unhealthy foods. In order to combat obesity, this interview recommends the implementation of a “broad range of policy measures” to improve the environments that people live in, making them more conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
"Social determinants of diabetes and challenges of prevention"
The Lancet 2010; 375(9733): 2204-2205 (open access)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2810%2960840-9/fulltext?_eventId=login
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