David Brill
The global diabetes epidemic has transcended medical specialties and become a priority for all healthcare professionals, say the organizers of this year’s Hong Kong Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Factors – East Meets West (EmW) symposium.
The meeting, to be held in September, will bring attendees up to speed on the latest research into the twin burdens of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The meeting, to be held in September, will bring attendees up to speed on the latest research into the twin burdens of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
With topics ranging from lifestyle interventions and nutrition to the management of diabetes in pregnancy, the symposium promises to deliver a host of practical insights for day-to-day patient care. Leading cardiologists will review strategies for assessing cardiovascular status in people with diabetes, while other sessions will address the crucial importance of good glycemic control, particularly in light of major recent studies such as ACCORD*, ADVANCE** and VADT***.
Other highlights include cutting-edge sessions on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, including pancreatic beta-cell pathology, the developmental-origins hypothesis of diabetes and the role of lipid metabolism in insulin resistance.
“The rate of diabetes is now rampant in Asia, especially in young to middle-aged people. In some countries, the prevalence can be as high as 10 percent,” said Dr. Gary Ko, chairman of the organizing committee for the EmW symposium, now entering its eleventh year.
“The economic burden of diabetes to governments, and the health impact to individuals, cannot be overemphasized. Diabetes can be linked to all systems and specialties. We believe that a good and up-to-date understanding of diabetes is essential for all practicing doctors, be they family physicians, specialists or from other fields,” he said.
“We hope to arouse the attention of our clinicians, particularly those working in Asia, to the increasing epidemic of diabetes, its devastating morbidity and mortality, and what needs to be done to minimize the impact of diabetes and CVD on society.”
Managing weight and diet in type 2 diabetics is just one of the many challenging areas which will be addressed in depth at the EmW symposium, said Professor Ronald Ma, chairman of the EmW scientific committee. He highlighted a presentation by world-renowned endocrinologist Professor Harold Lebovitz, who will introduce a new gastrointestinal ‘pacemaker’ known as Tantalus, which can regulate appetite and help patients to lose weight. Leading Hong Kong nutritionist Ms. Lorena Cheung will offer a different angle – providing insights on how to advise patients on glycemic index and glycemic load.
US obesity expert Professor John Foreyt will also share his knowledge and experience as an investigator on the Look-AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial – a successful lifestyle intervention study which helped overweight diabetics to lose an average of 8.6 percent of their weight, improve fitness, reduce medications and lower HbA1C by 0.7 percent, after just one year. [Diabetes Care 2007 Jun;30(6):1374-83]
The ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT trials have shown the critical need to balance the benefits of blood glucose lowering against potential drug-related side effects, notably weight gain and hypoglycemia. In this session, Professor Brian Frier, of the University of Edinburgh, UK, will give an overview of hypoglycemia: its impact on cardiovascular events and the underlying mechanisms.
Hong Kong expert Professor Terrence Lao, meanwhile, will provide an Asian perspective on the ever-growing problem of gestational diabetes, while Professor Edwin Lee will probe the link between anti-psychotic medications and metabolic disorders. Finally, world expert Professor Edward Fisher will share his wisdom on the rationale and evidence for peer support in the management of diabetes.
Over 600 attendees from all over the world are expected at the EmW symposium, which will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 30 September to 1 October 2009.
The event is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, CMPMedica Pacific Limited, the Hong Kong Atherosclerosis Society, the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity and the Hong Kong Foundation for Research and Development in Diabetes, with support from the Hong Kong Dietitians Association.
For more information, see: http://www.eastmeetswest.org.hk/
Other highlights include cutting-edge sessions on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, including pancreatic beta-cell pathology, the developmental-origins hypothesis of diabetes and the role of lipid metabolism in insulin resistance.
“The rate of diabetes is now rampant in Asia, especially in young to middle-aged people. In some countries, the prevalence can be as high as 10 percent,” said Dr. Gary Ko, chairman of the organizing committee for the EmW symposium, now entering its eleventh year.
“The economic burden of diabetes to governments, and the health impact to individuals, cannot be overemphasized. Diabetes can be linked to all systems and specialties. We believe that a good and up-to-date understanding of diabetes is essential for all practicing doctors, be they family physicians, specialists or from other fields,” he said.
“We hope to arouse the attention of our clinicians, particularly those working in Asia, to the increasing epidemic of diabetes, its devastating morbidity and mortality, and what needs to be done to minimize the impact of diabetes and CVD on society.”
Managing weight and diet in type 2 diabetics is just one of the many challenging areas which will be addressed in depth at the EmW symposium, said Professor Ronald Ma, chairman of the EmW scientific committee. He highlighted a presentation by world-renowned endocrinologist Professor Harold Lebovitz, who will introduce a new gastrointestinal ‘pacemaker’ known as Tantalus, which can regulate appetite and help patients to lose weight. Leading Hong Kong nutritionist Ms. Lorena Cheung will offer a different angle – providing insights on how to advise patients on glycemic index and glycemic load.
US obesity expert Professor John Foreyt will also share his knowledge and experience as an investigator on the Look-AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial – a successful lifestyle intervention study which helped overweight diabetics to lose an average of 8.6 percent of their weight, improve fitness, reduce medications and lower HbA1C by 0.7 percent, after just one year. [Diabetes Care 2007 Jun;30(6):1374-83]
The ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT trials have shown the critical need to balance the benefits of blood glucose lowering against potential drug-related side effects, notably weight gain and hypoglycemia. In this session, Professor Brian Frier, of the University of Edinburgh, UK, will give an overview of hypoglycemia: its impact on cardiovascular events and the underlying mechanisms.
Hong Kong expert Professor Terrence Lao, meanwhile, will provide an Asian perspective on the ever-growing problem of gestational diabetes, while Professor Edwin Lee will probe the link between anti-psychotic medications and metabolic disorders. Finally, world expert Professor Edward Fisher will share his wisdom on the rationale and evidence for peer support in the management of diabetes.
Over 600 attendees from all over the world are expected at the EmW symposium, which will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 30 September to 1 October 2009.
The event is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, CMPMedica Pacific Limited, the Hong Kong Atherosclerosis Society, the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity and the Hong Kong Foundation for Research and Development in Diabetes, with support from the Hong Kong Dietitians Association.
For more information, see: http://www.eastmeetswest.org.hk/
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*ACCORD: Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes
**ADVANCE: Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation
***VADT: Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial
*ACCORD: Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes
**ADVANCE: Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation
***VADT: Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial
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