Research grant supports duel against diabetes

Information, detection and prevention of diabetes is essential for people of Indian and subcontinent origin

Some of the risk factors for diabetes

G en es

For Type 1 diabetu (on average) lf the mother has the c ondition, the risk of developing it is about 2'1/o

Peop leof Indian descent are six times mo.re likely to contract type 2 diabetes than the general population," says Dr Kuowarjit Sangla, Director of Diabetes and End ocrinology, Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

"The chances of developing diabetes may depend on a mix of genetic factors, lifestyle (diet and exercise) and environmental factors. Complications from Diabetes including blindness, amputations, h eart attacks and kidney failuce arc common among Indians," he adds.

Waichal is now 63, and was diagnosed with diabetes at just 33. She never had a sweet tooth, but was genetically pre- disposed to this disease, having lost her mother co d iabetes. Waichal's diabete s slowly and gradually increased with time and stress, and she now has to follow a strictly disciplined diet along with insulin injections four times a day Akbar (66) was diagnosed with Type 2 D iabetes in 2009. Although she did restrict fatty and sugary food groups from her diet, she too inherited this disease. She too, lost her mother to diabetes and by following a strict daily diet, Akbar has not needed insulin injections.

So what is diabetes?

"There a.re principally two types of Diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2 The risk factors are different for both of them ," explains Dr Sangla. "A third variety is secondary diabetes where the pancreas has become completely dysfunctional due to d isease or illness, or may have b een surgically removed There is a genetically inherited type of diabetes in children. AU types can occur at any age ".

Type l diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed No one knows for certain why these cells have been damaged. Lt is rare in lndians Typ e 2 diabe tes usually appears in middle-aged or older p eople, although more frequently it is being diagnosed in yo unger overweight people (especially Indian children) Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is not making enough insulin , or the insulin it is making is not being used properly. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be reduced b y changes in lifestyle

After losing her nani (grandmother) to lliabetes and her mother affect ed by tl-1is disease, fifth generation Fijianborn Heena Akbar realised there was not enough information and awareness provided on diabetes among communities. Currently a PhD student at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

42 -year- old Heena was recently provided with funding from Diabetes Queensland and QUT to study 'the management of diabetes b y women from Fiji who are now in Brisbane regardless of their ethnicity/ race lndians, Fijian, Chinese, Polynesians and other groups all have a high incidence of Type 2 diab etes.'

"Diabetes is the world's sixth megatrend! Over the years our lifestyle has b ecome sedentary, we have less time an d no physical activity," says lleena.

"We a.re moving into an era of modernisation and b ecause of our change in habits, diab e t es and cardiovascular diseases are common causes of dea th l t is a fact that Jnclians and Asians are prone to Type 2 diab e t es du e to pre-history of diabetes in the family," claims Heena, who comes from an Indian - Afghan and Nepali background

Commenting on the research

Heena grant given, Michelle T rute, CEO Diabetes Qu eensland says, "Type 2 diabetes is the world's fastest growing chronic disease and the situation in Queensland is no differe n t. The aim of the research grants is to help inform sufferers about the clirection of Queensland 's health system which includes having the right structures and S}'St ems in place to manage the complications rela ted to all types of diabetes, so that they are tailored to the need s of individual communities".

"This is the reason we were extre mely pleased to be able to provide Heena Akbar with $30,000 funding through Diabetes Queenslan d's annual PhD scholarship to study the impact of Type 2 diabetes on Fijian women living in Australia," she adds.

Echoing similar thoughts on research on diabetes, Dr Sangla says, "Research in diabetes, obesity and chronic disease within culturally and linguistically diverse communitie s is very important. These high risk communities of various ethnicities will b enefit from research which id entifies key issues relevant to their physical, mental and social wellb eing Hopefully this will then

Dr Sang/a help identify solutions which are culturally an d traditionally appropriate to their living"

"The objective of the PhD research is to gain a b etter understanding of migrant women from Fiji of all e thnic backgroun d s living Ln Brisbane, in managing Type 2 diabetes," explains Heena " T his will b e done through communication whi.d1 will include talking to eld ers/lead ers o f the community, conducting inter views aod focus groups with health providers and women with family who have diabetes Through my research l will be able to draw .an analysis, develop interventions an d programs tailored specifically to fill gaps and address issues thus in helping and assisting people affected b y diabetes," she adds

So who is at risk?

"O b ese children are at high risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and hypercholestcrolemia," Dr Saogla explains "Get them screened when young These are no longer illnesses only of the elderly".

I f you have a family history of d iabetes or are overweight, get screened. If the initial screening is normal, it doesn't mean you are safe forever and can't get diabetes. Get screened regularly, especially if the risk factors a.re unchanged and as you get old er.

I f overweight, get screened for diabe tes prior to pregnancy

If yo u have diabetes, control your sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure. Controlling sugars is oot enough Ask your doctor to give you targets levels you need to achieve.

If the father has the conllition, the risk of d eveloping i.t is about 6o/o

If both parents have the condition , the risk of d eveloping it is up to 30% lf a b rother or sister develops the condition, the ris k of d eveloping it is 10% (rising to 15% for a non -i dentical twin and 40% for an identical twin)

For Type 2 d i a b etes (on a verage) lf either parent has the condition, the risk of developing it is 15% lf both parents have the condition , the risk of d eveloping it is 75%

If a non -identical twin has the condition , the risk of d eveloping it is 10% lf an identical twin has the condition , the risk of d eveloping it is 90%

Ethnicity

T)-pe 2 diabetes is up to si;,: times more common in p eople of lndi.an d es cent.

According to the Health Survey for England 2004, doctordiagnosed diabetes is almost three times as prevalent in Indian m en compared with men io the general population.

Among women, diab etes is twoand-a-half times as likely in Indian women, compared with women in the general population.

Or Sangla suggests preventive measures against diabetes

El).erci.se r egularly Burn the cal.ories

It's not all about weight (rugby players weigh a lot but are not fat) lt's about having a slim waistline

Ea t to live but don 't live to eat. See a dietician fo r culturally and trad itionally appropriate cliet plan Understand that just b e cause a food is not sweet doesn't mean it will not have sugar in it

Restricting sugary foods is not enough Calorics come from proteins, carbohydrates and fatty food