The challenge of diabetes: World Health Day, April 7

The theme of this year’s World Health Day is “Beat diabetes.” About 350 million people worldwide have diabetes and that number is projected to more than double in the next 20 years. Eleven million Canadians are living with the disease, and every three minutes another Canadian is diagnosed.

The following University of Victoria experts are available to media this week to talk about their research related to diabetes:

•    Diagnosing diabetes:
Early detection and treatment of diabetes can lower the risk of developing serious complications later on. Current screening takes place through a doctor. But what if there was a simple test we could all do at home? A project co-led by Christoph Borchers, director of the UVic-Genome BC Proteomics Centre, has developed and patented a way to detect diabetes in a single drop of dried blood that could be mailed to a lab from home. “We think our approach is an inexpensive alternative to current tests and could be used for population-wide screening,” says Borchers.
(In Ontario all week of April 4-8 but can be reached by cell at 1-250-413-7511 or christoph@proteincentre.com)

•    Living with diabetes:
Many people diagnosed with diabetes find it very challenging to manage the disease and adjust to a healthier lifestyle on their own. Would a buddy system help? UVic researcher Patrick McGowan (School of Public Health and Social Policy) is working with 11 diabetes health centres in the Fraser Health Region to find out. The pilot study—now in its second year—is recruiting and training 100 “coaches” and pairing them up with people living with diabetes. Early results are very promising.
(Office in Delta, BC: 604-940-3574 or pmcgowan@uvic.ca)

•    Understanding diabetes:
We know that diabetes is caused by a mix of genetic, environmental and behavioural factors, and that certain people are more likely to develop diabetes because of their genetic makeup. One of the genetic factors involved is called the Pax6 gene. Low expression of this gene is seen in diabetics in several populations. A project led by Perry Howard (Biochemistry and Microbiology) is developing therapeutics that can restore Pax6 levels to normal. This research is a direct result of Howard’s work on a rare genetic disease called Aniridia. “Sometimes some of the most significant findings can come from the most unexpected places,” says Howard.
(Office 250-721-7077 or bcmb@uvic.ca)
 

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