Regresar

Combating the type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemic in Latin America: Special features demanding innovative actions

Abstract:

Latin American countries have an accelerated growth in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) associated with increased rates of obesity and overweight. This increase is due to the rapid urbanization experienced in recent years, which has led to changes in physical activity and dietary habits. In addition, the fetal programming of malnourished mothers during pregnancy increases the tendency of children with low birth weight to develop insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. This is especially so when these children are subjected to an environment of excess food to which they were not programmed, leading them to develop abdominal obesity and an increased risk of DM2. This article reviews some of the factors that may be associated with the DM2 epidemic in Latin America. These factors are basically caused by the contradiction between the need of the fetus to adapt to poor maternal nutrition or placental insufficiency due to diseases such as preeclampsia, and the need of the adult to adapt to the urban lifestyle full of excess food with a high intake of saturated fats, flours and sweetened beverages, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, which lead to insulin resistance and DM2. A full understanding of these conditions is essential to combat the DM2 epidemic in Latin America, as well as acceptance that effective prevention of DM2 requires a concerted effort by all of the actors in society, not just health teams. © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEA.