As South-East Asia, including India, battles over 482,000 diabetes-related deaths annually, a new study reveals that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, widely used for weight loss and diabetes management, also provide significant kidney protection. &nbsp;
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the growing burden of diabetes in the region at the Regional Commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2024 in Colombo. While over 60 million people in South-east Asia are now on protocol-based care for diabetes and hypertension, with a target of 100 million by 2025, challenges persist. Limited access to insulin and rising cases of Type 2 diabetes among the young remain critical concerns. &nbsp;
At the event, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed called for equitable, accessible, and affordable diabetes care. Health leaders adopted the&nbsp;&ldquo;Colombo Call to Action,&rdquo;&nbsp;emphasizing collective efforts to bridge care gaps and improve prevention and treatment. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a video message, noted that more than half of the world&rsquo;s 800 million people with diabetes lack treatment. &nbsp;
Meanwhile, a study published in&nbsp;The Lancet Diabetes &amp; Endocrinology&nbsp;found that GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), and liraglutide (Victoza), reduce the risk of kidney failure by 16% and slow the progression of kidney function decline by 22%. &nbsp;
The meta-analysis, led by Indian-origin researcher Professor Sunil Badve from the George Institute for Global Health, involved 85,373 participants, including people with Type 2 diabetes and those with cardiovascular conditions but no diabetes. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition leading to dialysis or transplantation and is often associated with premature death, primarily from heart disease,&rdquo;&nbsp;said Badve. &ldquo;These findings offer new hope for patients with and without diabetes.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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The WHO emphasized the importance of equipping primary healthcare systems with standard protocols, essential medicines, and skilled professionals to meet rising care demands. Preventing diabetes, Wazed noted, is &ldquo;a shared responsibility of governments, healthcare providers, and communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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With diabetes cases surging and innovative treatments showing promise, experts stress the urgency of intensifying global and regional efforts to tackle this public health crisis.

The findings offer new hope for patients with and without diabetes

Could they prevent some of the 482,000 diabetes-related deaths in South-East Asia every year?

Diabetes Drugs Offer Kidney Protection

Could they prevent some of the 482,000 diabetes-related deaths in South-East Asia every year?

November 26, 2024 | 16:08 IST