Experts on type 2 diabetes prevention to aid Singapore “war on diabetes”

Type 2 diabetes is a rising health problem with one in nine people in Singapore developing the condition.

Singapore’s “war on diabetes” is to receive a boost from Leicester-based diabetes experts who have teamed up to share their expertise in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

A public health campaign is to be launched in the South East Asian country due to one in nine people in Singapore being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Singapore Minister of State for Health Dr Lam Pin Min and a team of senior health officials recently visited the Leicester Diabetes Centre, based at Leicester General Hospital, as part of a fact-finding tour of the UK to help shape their approach to tackling the condition.

A spokesman for Singapore’s Ministry of Health said: “It is remarkable that despite a more aged and obese population, the UK has significantly lower type 2 diabetes prevalence when compared to Singapore. Singapore’s War on Diabetes provides the impetus for reviewing international best practices, and learning from countries which attained some success in tackling diabetes.”

The Leicester Diabetes Centre is home to DESMOND, a structured type 2 diabetes education programme commissioned more than 90 NHS trusts.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “The delegation from Singapore are committed to improving the country’s significant diabetes burden. We have shared what we have learned to help them to ensure they have the right strategy in place to both improve care and reduce the number of people with type 2 diabetes.”

Professor Melanie Davies CBE, Professor of Diabetes Medicine Professor at the University of Leicester, said: “We are proud of the reputation we have built up through the work we have done to support the prevention and improved treatment and self-management of type 2 diabetes by furthering knowledge and education. We welcomed the opportunity to share this with international colleagues.”

The Singapore ministers included the country’s Director of Medical Services, the Senior Manager from the Diabetes Programme Office and a senior diabetes consultant, who also visited the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS Scotland as well as NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

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