Risikofaktorer og forebygging av diabetes type 2 blant innvandrere i Europa

Abstract

Abstract: The scale and frequency of migration from low- to high income countries recently has exponentially increased as a result of human rights abuses, ethnic conflicts and natural disasters. Once in their host countries, migrants to westernized countries are at increased risk of the metabolic syndrome, mainly T2DM as well as obesity. Next to obesity and sedentary lifestyle, ethnicity as an non-modiafiable risk factor is an important determinant of diabetes as more studies shows migrants to Western societies have an increased risk of diabetes. Knowledge about T2DM risk factors among these people are therefore becoming more and more important so they could be targeted for prevention of T2DM

Purpose: The purpose of the present thesis was to review the information available about risk factors and prevention of T2DM among migrant populations in Europe today. I want to investigate the risk factors of diabetes type 2 among different types of migrants in Europe, and what type of prevention will be most suitable for this group.

Methods: I used the database Pubmed. Only English articles from 01.01.2004 until 01.01.2011 were included. The studies were selected based on their relevance and importance in the context of the topic. Several searches were performed by typing and combining the keywords: T2DM, migrants, immigrants, minorities, ethnic, prevention, risk factors, type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, prophylaxis, europe.

Results, discussion and conclusion: Migrants in Europe appear to be the prone group of T2DM and it seems that to be a migrant is a risk factor for many chronic lifestyle diseases such as T2DM. Migrant populations from South-Asia, Africa and Middle-east in Europe where found to all have higher prevalence of diabetes type 2 than the indigineous Europeans. Different riskfactors among the migrant populations where also found. RCT-studies have shown consistently that T2DM can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle interventions such as increased physical activity and changes in diet. Community-based prevention programs that are cultural-sensitive will be the best approach to prevent T2DM among migrants in Europe