Kampala, Uganda – A new systematic review conducted by researchers in Uganda and the UK has found that Black Africans newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) tend to be younger and have lower body mass index (BMI).
They also discovered that this category struggles with poorer glycemic control compared to their White European counterparts.
Davis Kibirige led them from the Department of Medicine, Uganda Martyrs Hospital Lubaga, Kampala, Uganda. The others were Ronal Olum from the School of Public Health, Makerere University, Andrew Peter Kyazze from College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Bethan Morgan from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK Felix Bongomin from the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, William Lumu from the Department of Medicine, Mengo Hospital, Kampala, and Moffat J. Nyirenda from Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
In their study titled: Differential Manifestation of Type 2 diabetes in Black Africans and White Europeans with Recently Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes: A systematic review,” they noted such challenges as the prevailing belief that diabetes is predominantly a disease of the elderly and overweight, revealing significant ethnic differences in how T2D manifests. It has been published in the prestigious ScienceDirect.
The study:
The review examined 28 studies from multiple countries, providing a comprehensive comparison of Black Africans and White Europeans with recently diagnosed T2D.
The researchers found that the average age of diagnosis for Black Africans was 51.5 years, nearly a decade younger than the 60.2 years for White Europeans. Additionally, Black Africans had a lower average BMI (27.0 kg/m²) compared to White Europeans (31.3 kg/m²), but their glycated hemoglobin levels, a key marker for blood sugar control, were significantly higher (9.0% vs. 7.1%).
“Our latest paper suggests that Black Africans newly diagnosed with diabetes tend to be younger, with lower BMI but poorer glycemic control than white Europeans. Diabetes is no longer a disease of the old and obese only,” said Dr. Olum on X.
He explained that the study implies that Diabetes is no longer a disease that affects only the old and obese.
“You can be small and young and be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.,” he emphasized.
He added that normally, one’s body has a helper called insulin that moves sugar into the cells for storing or for energy.
“In type 2 diabetes, there is a problem managing these sugars, either because the helper (insulin) is little or the cells are not responding to its signal to take sugar.”
Findings:
The fascinating findings underscore the need to consider ethnic-specific strategies when managing and preventing diabetes, particularly in Black African populations.
The review highlights the importance of understanding the underlying genetic and environmental factors contributing to these differences.
It calls for rigorous interventional studies tailored to Black African populations to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
The researchers found that Black Africans, particularly in Uganda and Tanzania, had lower markers of beta-cell function and insulin resistance compared to White Europeans.
“This suggests that the biological mechanisms of diabetes may vary significantly between these populations, further emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in managing the disease,” they write.
They added that “Diabetes prevention and management in Africa require a new lens, one that considers the unique challenges faced by Black Africans.
“We need localized evidence to guide our interventions, rather than relying on global data that may not fully reflect the realities of our populations.”
Study implications
The study’s findings are a wake-up call for public health officials and clinicians across Africa, where diabetes rates are rising rapidly.
The researchers urge policymakers to prioritize diabetes research and prevention programs tailored to the African context.
The study further provides compelling evidence of the ethnic differences in how T2D manifests, calling for a deeper understanding of the factors driving these differences and the development of ethnic-specific approaches to diabetes care.
As diabetes continues to affect millions of people worldwide, this research could pave the way for more effective strategies to manage and prevent the disease in Black African populations.
According to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2021, an estimated 716,000 adults in Uganda had diabetes. About 89% of Ugandans with diabetes are neither on medication nor aware of their status and therefore present to the health system with difficult-to-treat complications
For more details on the study, access the full paper HERE
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