Foot ulcerations double the mortality risk among patients with diabetes

The first EASD-GGSD- Lilly medical forum for diabetologists, held in Dubai, presents the latest clinical and research data on diabetes and its complications

Dubai - November 12, 2012:  In the first postgraduate course in clinical diabetes jointly formulated by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the Gulf Group for the Study of Diabetes (GGSD), held this weekend in Dubai, new data relating to diabetes and its complications, was discussed by more than 150 doctors from across the GCC working in the diabetes field. At the course, funded by Lilly, and led by over 30 diabetes experts from Europe and the region, findings from the latest study show that diabetes patients with foot ulcerations double their mortality risk.

In a region which has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, five of which are in the GCC namely:  Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the importance of addressing treatment and care options have become more daunting than ever.  The International Diabetes Federation projects that almost 60 million people in the Middle East will have diabetes by 2030 from 32.6 million in 2011.

Commenting on  diabetes foot complications and other diabetes related complications, Dr. Abdulrazzaq Al Madani - President of the Gulf Group for the Study of Diabetes (GGSD) said:  "Foot infections in persons with diabetes are serious as they take longer to cure compared to infections contracted by persons without diabetes. Diabetic lower limb amputation happen every 20 seconds and a person dies every second from diabetes-related causes; therefore it is very important for people living with diabetes to understand the importance of controlling their condition to avoid any related complications."

During the course, attendees discussed the complications of diabetes and participated in a live diabetic foot ulcers evaluation workshop.

In the November 2012 issue of Diabetologia, the journal of EASD, a meta-analysis of eight studies published between 1996 and 2011, showed that on a total of 17,830 patients, diabetic foot ulceration was associated with a nearly two-fold increased risk for all-cause mortality on top of diabetes alone.

Already, patients with diabetes have a double risk for both cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality compared to patients without diabetes. Diabetic foot ulceration, known to be the most common diabetes complication, adds on that already-elevated risk.

Patients with diabetes are predisposed to foot infections because of a weak vascular supply due to diabetes. Local trauma and/or pressure (often in association with lack of sensation because of neuropathy), in addition to microvascular disease, may result in various diabetic foot infections that can lead to gangrene and amputation.

Talking about diabetes complications, Professor Leszek Czupryniak, Secretary of the EASD Postgraduate Education Committee and Chair of EASD Extra-European Education said: "Clinical and research data about diabetes complications is constantly gathered and updated. Diabetes complications still represent a challenge for doctors and patients to prevent and manage.  Our aim was to present the latest data from Europe and share it with the attending doctors from across the GCC.  The data presented about foot ulcerations support the need for strategies focusing on both more aggressive modification of cardiovascular risk factors and ulcer, in order to attenuate the excess mortality associated with them".

As per Professor Abdul Jabbar - Senior Medical Advisor at Lilly, this training course covered almost all the key areas in the field of diabetes and its complications. A full day of the course was dedicated to discuss complications such as diabetes and the heart, diabetes and the kidney diabetes and the eye, and diabetes and the foot".

The course is the first to stem from a three-year partnership focused on continued medical education for next generation diabetologists from across the GCC. Under the partnership, EASD is working in collaboration with GGSD to develop yearly post-graduate training courses for doctors specialised in diabetes. Lilly provides funding for the programme as part of its ongoing commitment to diabetes education

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About EASD
The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) was founded in 1965. The aims of the Association are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, to rapidly diffuse acquired knowledge and to facilitate its application.

The EASD Annual Meeting is the largest annual scientific meeting on diabetes in the world and brings together over 17,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The mission of EASD is to promote excellence in diabetes care through research and education.

For the last 30 years EASD has been actively involved in postgraduate education, organizing courses care in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2005 EASD, in collaboration with e.g. International Diabetes Federation, American Diabetes Association and industry partners, has also brought about number of educational activities outside Europe, i.e. in Africa (Tanzania, South Africa), Southern America (Brasil, Panama), and Asia (China, Vietnam, Nepal).

About GGSD
The Gulf Group for the Study of Diabetes (GGSD) was founded in 2005. The aim of GGSD is to improve the knowledge and skills of diabetes medical professionals across the Gulf States.

The group organises congresses to further the scientific exchange among local experts and advance practices that further best patient care in the region with the highest prevalence of diabetes.

About Lilly
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

For more than 85 years, Lilly has been a worldwide leader in pioneering industry-leading solutions to support people living with and treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also committed to providing solutions beyond therapy - practical tools, education, and support programmes to help overcome barriers to success along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journeys of each person living with or treating diabetes inspire ours. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

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© Press Release 2012