‘Urgent action’ needed to stem rise in type 2 diabetes

LONDON — Physicians must be more aggressive in identifying patients at high risk for type 2 diabetes and in preventing complications in those with the disease, urged the International Diabetes Foundation. Tight glucose control is the key to preventing complications, and many physicians "have been too complacent" with their patients, the IDF said in a statement.

“Type 2 diabetes is not a ‘mild’ form of diabetes,” said Prof. Sir George Alberti, the president of IDF. “More aggressive control of the whole blood glucose profile is essential if we are to prevent the life-threatening complications of diabetes.”

The U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study showed that if HbA1c, a marker of blood glucose control, is reduced by 1%, the risk of eye and kidney damage is reduced by up to nearly 45%, and the risk of heart attack is reduced by 14%.

Early detection is also vital, Prof. Alberti said. “Affluent nations should be screening high-risk groups, such as people who are obese, have a family history or are from ethnic groups pre-disposed to the condition,” he said. Type 2 diabetes already accounts for between 10% and 15% of European healthcare budgets and that figure is set to rise, he added.

In Europe, type 2 diabetes affects one in 20 adults (22.5 million). A further one in seven adults over age 40 have a condition known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which confers a high risk of diabetes and a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the IDF, about half the people with IGT will develop diabetes within 10 years, but the vast majority will not be diagnosed.