The incidence of diabetes in Greenland is high, and a serious and frequent complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy.
This condition affects the long nerves that extend to the feet and hands, as well as vital organs such as the heart.
On April 24, doctor and PhD student at Aarhus University, Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen, defended her PhD project, which has shown that Inuit ancestry is associated with a higher likelihood of having diabetic neuropathy, and that there is a particularly high incidence among Greenlanders with prediabetes.
The study is based on data collected during the Population Survey in Greenland in 2018 and in collaboration with the Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Aarhus, and Copenhagen.
The incidence of diabetes in Greenland is high, and a serious and frequent complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. This condition affects the long nerves that extend to the feet and hands, as well as vital organs such as the heart. The condition can have significant consequences for patients' quality of life and health, but the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy has not been sufficiently studied in Greenland, although previous studies have indicated a relatively high incidence.
“It is important to emphasize that the increased likelihood of diabetic neuropathy among Greenlanders may be due to genetic factors, but also Inuit-specific environmental factors, such as lifestyle factors, diet composition, and climate,” says Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen. A new study, in collaboration with the Steno Diabetes Center Greenland, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, and Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, will investigate further which factors can affect nerve function in Greenlanders with diabetes, as this is important for preventing the condition.
The results are relevant to the Greenlandic population, particularly Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes. The results are also especially relevant for the Greenlandic healthcare system, as the high incidence of diabetic neuropathy among Greenlanders with prediabetes indicates that it may be relevant to screen for diabetic neuropathy already at the prediabetes stage.
The title of the project is “Exploring diabetic neuropathy in Greenland: Normative reference thresholds and prevalence estimation in the context of Inuit genetic ancestry.” For questions, contact Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen, email: marie.mathilde.bjerg.christensen.01@regionh.dk