| Banting Memorial Lecture 2010^. Type 2 diabetes as an 'infectious' disease: is this the Black Death of the 21st century? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21166840 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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We are currently facing a global pandemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. In some settings, the population prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is 50%, and half of those affected will die from diabetes-related complications. Eight centuries ago, an epidemic of bubonic plague swept across Europe, killing at least half of its victims. We here draw comparisons between these two pandemics, proposing close analogies between the 'Black Death' of the 14th century and the modern-day equivalent of Type 2 diabetes. Both diseases can be considered in terms of an aetiological agent, a reservoir, a vector and a predisposing toxic environment; populations can be considered as highly susceptible to the transmissable agents of Type 2 diabetes in the setting of calorie excess, inadequate food labelling, poorly regulated advertising and sedentary lifestyles. As for tackling a pandemic of a contagious microbial pathogen, we believe that breaking the cycle of transmission in the diabetes epidemic must be underpinned by political will and prompt, decisive legislation backed by the medical community. Far from fearing that such measures edge us towards a 'nanny state', we believe individuals should expect a responsible government to safeguard them from the toxic milieu that puts them at risk of obesity and its complications, and that communities and populations have the right to have their health protected. |
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Authors:
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D R Matthews; P C Matthews |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Historical Article; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association Volume: 28 ISSN: 1464-5491 ISO Abbreviation: Diabet. Med. Publication Date: 2011 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-12-20 Completed Date: 2011-05-09 Revised Date: 2011-08-04 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8500858 Medline TA: Diabet Med Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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© 2010 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2010 Diabetes UK. |
Affiliation:
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Oxford Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford, UK. david.matthews@ocdem.ox.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
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epidemiology* Great Britain / epidemiology History, 15th Century History, 21st Century Humans Obesity / epidemiology* Pandemics Plague / epidemiology*, history, transmission United States / epidemiology |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Diabet Med. 2011 Jul;28(7):880
[PMID:
21418089
]
Diabet Med. 2011 May;28(5):622 [PMID: 21303405 ] |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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