P R E S S   R E L E A S E

The Diabetes Care and Research Group at The Chinese University of Hong Kong has over the last 10 years done extensive research into the local pattern of diabetes and confirmed the high prevalence of young onset type 2 diabetes and its heterogeneity characterized by multiple risk factors and complications.  Similar trends are also being observed in Mainland China and many non White populations. In less than 10 years, the prevalence of diabetes in the 20-40 age group in mainland Chinese has increased by more than 10 fold. The World Health Organization has estimated that in contrast to the developed countries where the major increase in prevalence of diabetes will occur in the elderly subjects, in developing countries, the major increases will occur in the 40-50 year age group. These alarming figures carry major socio-economic implications since a 2-3 fold increase in diabetes prevalence will translate to 500 fold increase in the incidence of diabetic complications in 10-20 years time such as kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and leg amputation.

The conventional classification and treatment guidelines for young onset diabetes in Caucasians, the majority due to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic b cells, cannot be readily applied to the local population. Classical autoimmune Type 1 diabetes remains relatively uncommon, accounting for only 10%, among local young patients. 50% of these young patients had multiple risk factors including obesity, albuminuria, high blood pressure and high blood fat levels. All these are powerful predictors for the future development of stroke, cardiovascular and renal diseases, which will occur in their late 40 and early 50 years. Unfortunately, despite the high risk nature, many of these patients are not aware of the progressive nature of the disease and the importance of comprehensive assessments and optimal management.

In the Prince of Wales Hospital, the CUHK team has developed an infrastructure and the expertise to provide comprehensive assessment and educational programmes to these young diabetic patients, which are not widely available in the community. In 1999, the CUHK Diabetes Care and Research Group established the Hong Kong Foundation for Research and Development in Diabetes (HKFRDD) to promote diabetes research and develop innovative programmes to improve diabetes care. One of these is a self-funded 4-hour comprehensive diabetes education and assessment programme. In this 4-hour programme, state of the art methods will be applied to document all complications and risk factors. These data are computerized and based on existing evidence, diabetologists will recommended an individualized treatment plan to patients. This is followed by a 2-hour educational programme to empower patients with their health information and their rights and roles to achieve optimal diabetes care. In addition, the hormonal, insulin, genetic and autoimmune status of these young patients will also be documented as part of the ongoing research projects to further improve our understanding and to develop novel treatment for this heterogeneous and complex disease.

In light of the rising incidence of diabetes and its complications worldwide, the HKFRDD has organized the 2nd Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors - East Meets West Symposium on 30 September and 1 October 2000.  The symposium provides a forum for local and overseas experts as well as health care professionals and administrators to discuss and develop strategies to control the epidemics of diabetes. To further increase our networking with doctors and nurses in China, the Foundation has also organised the 1st CUHK Advanced Course in Diabetes Management, which has been attended by 28 diabetologists from different parts of China to share experience and develop diabetes health care models in China. Similar courses are being planned for local doctors and health care professionals to attend with the objective to improve the standard of diabetes care in our community. 

The research programmes have been supported by the Research Grants Council, Croucher Foundation, Innovation and Technology Fund and CUHK Strategic Programme. The HKFRDD also received sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies including Aventis, Celki, Eli Lilly, Knoll, Merck, Novo-Nordisk, Roche, Servier and Smith-Kline-Beecham to promote diabetes care and research.