On November 07 2017, scientists from icddr,b and the George Institute, Australia have launched a multi-country lifestyle intervention program titled LIVING for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among Bangladeshi women with gestational diabetes.
Prof Dr Anushka Patel, Chief Scientist, George Institute, Australia is leading the multi-country trial and Dr Aliya Naheed, Head of Non-communicable Disease Initiative, icddr,b is leading the Bangladesh program as the Principal Investigator. In Bangladesh, the study has been conducted by icddr,b in collaborations with Maternal Child Health and Training Institutions (MCHTI), Azimpur; Mohammadpur Fertility Services and Training Centre (MFSTC); BIRDEM 2, Shegunbagicha; Mariestopes Premium-1, Dhanmondi.
In the opening remarks Dr Aliya Naheed highlighted the importance of the roles of the public and private sectors four collaborating institutions. She reported that the Living study has been well customized for Bangladesh health systems and designed pragmatically based on the findings of a formative research, so that the intervention can be easily adopted in both of the public and private facilities targeting prevention of diabetes in women with prior GDM. “We need a low cost but effective intervention for the prevention of the rising burden of diabetes in Bangladesh, and preventing diabetes by promoting low intensity behavioural intervention in women in reproductive age might be a faster track solution for Bangladesh” she stated. “The pro active roles of the public and private sectors for adopting the Living intervention today will build a better future for both mothers and children tomorrow” she added.
Dr. Patel in her key note address highlighted the high risks of NCDs among women as a result of being exposed to hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy. She has briefly described about the goal of the Living study and emphasized on the scopes that Living trial has created for prevention of diabetes in women.
She stated “1 in 7 births is affected by gestational diabetes, and 2 out of every 5 women with diabetes are of reproductive age attributing to over 60 million cases worldwide. Living has been pragmatically designed for a South Asian setting Bangladesh and its easy scalability in the health systems if Bangladesh. The trial is taking place in 24 facilities in three countries that provide maternal and child health care. Living trial will enrol 1,414 women with prior GDM and evaluate impact of a specially designed lifestyle interventions for reduction of the burden of diabetes among women.”
Dr Mohammed Sharif highly appreciated the initiative of icddr,b for improving the quality of care for the prevention of diabetes in women which is yet to be strengthened in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh has achieved tremendous successes in improving maternal and child health survival, and research evidence of icddr,b has played a critical role in achieving this success. Many issues are yet to be addressed, like non communicable diseases, and DGFP will offer all out supports to icddr,b for a successful outcome of the LIVING project in order to prevent diabetes among the women in reproductive age” stated Dr. Sharif.
Dr Richard Smith said, “It is known to all about global pandemic of diabetes, so prevention of diabetes is important and crucial.”