Sammanfattning
The MEDIM study reports that Immigrants from the Middle East to Sweden – independently of other diabetes related risk factors – have a twice as high type 2 diabetes risk as compared to non-immigrated Swedes.
Diabetes onset occurs 6 years earlier in this group and is partly explained by family history and/or obesity. But the MEDIM study has identified that Middle Eastern background per se is an independent risk factor for
earlier disease onset. Immigrants from the Middle East free of diabetes have a more pronounced insulin resistance and worse glycaemic control than non-immigrated Swedes independently of age, obesity or other risk
factors for diabetes. To be able to reduce the risk of diabetes and offer an equal health care, glucose/HbA1c should be controlled on wide indications, and risk evaluation and preventive actions provided earlier for this
population at high risk for type 2 diabetes.