The International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific (WP) region extends from East Asia to Oceania, encompassing a vast and diverse area of 38 countries and territories of island nations, coastal countries and archipelagos. Home to one-quarter of the world’s population, the region holds diverse cultures, languages and ethnicities, with countries like Japan, Australia, and Pacific Island nations. Lifestyles vary greatly, from the high-tech urban living in cities like Tokyo to the more traditional, community-oriented life on smaller Pacific Island nations, where local customs, agriculture, and fishing remain integral to daily life. It is also home to some of the highest diabetes rates globally, with high rates of undiagnosed diabetes and diabetes-related deaths.
According to diabetes estimates published by IDF in 2021, the WP Region accounts for over a third (38%) of all adults with diabetes. It has the third highest prevalence of diabetes (11.9%) globally. Within the region, China has the world’s largest diabetes population, with more than 118 million people living with diabetes, accounting for approximately 22% of all diabetes worldwide.
These figures translate into diabetes-related expenditures of USD 241 billion in 2021, representing 25% of global spending. IDF projects that the number of people with diabetes in the region will reach 260 million by 2045.
When looking at populations in the Western Pacific, stark disparities become apparent. Particularly vulnerable Pacific Islander populations face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes earlier compared to their counterparts in Australia and other regions.
When looking at populations in the Western Pacific, stark disparities become apparent. Diabetes prevalence is more than 10% in almost all the Pacific Island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Particularly vulnerable Pacific Islander populations face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes earlier compared to their counterparts in Australia and other regions. Furthermore, people in these communities often experience more severe diabetes-related complications and a higher mortality rate because of these complications. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are among the most common complications people with diabetes develop.
Lifestyle factors found in other regions of the world also contribute to the high incidence of diabetes in the Western Pacific. Chiefly, Western lifestyles with poor dietary choices and eating more highly processed foods rich in sugars and unhealthy fats have become more prevalent with the advent of globalisation.
One distinctive feature of the Western Pacific region is that Indigenous Peoples make up the majority in most Pacific Island countries, where genetics also plays a role with certain populations at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Indigenous Peoples account for over 476 million in 90 countries, and diabetes is now one of the most common health disparities that disproportionately impact these populations.
In Papua New Guinea, the Tolai, the Indigenous People of East New Britain, are an example of this susceptibility to develop diabetes. They are recognised as having a predisposed risk of type 2 diabetes on top of their risk as Pacific Islanders and Indigenous people. Looking at diabetes complications, East New Britain has the highest recorded rate of type 2 diabetes and diabetes related amputations throughout PNG.
Additionally, socioeconomic factors can impact health outcomes. Diabetes disproportionately affects isolated and difficult-to-reach communities with limited access to education, resources, and healthcare. Governments have implemented action plans, including national plans, to increase early diagnosis and improve health outcomes. For instance, in 2013, Australia launched the Western Pacific Diabetes Declaration. The plan committed AUD 25 million over four years to combat NCDs, including diabetes, through education, screening, and strengthening the healthcare system.
Along with regional plans, IDF Members in the region and local diabetes associations play a decisive role in diabetes diagnosis, management, and prevention. In rural areas, community initiatives lead diabetes screening, nutritional education and physical activity promotion. These grassroots efforts empower individuals to take charge of their health and promote healthier lifestyles within their communities.
The Western Pacific includes many low-lying Pacific Island countries and areas at risk of a range of climate-related impacts, some of which are already being felt and are expected to worsen in the coming decades.
The Western Pacific includes many low-lying Pacific Island countries and areas at risk of a range of climate-related impacts, some of which are already being felt and are expected to worsen in the coming decades.
Several key factors affect people with diabetes. Extreme heat can increase the risk of dehydration, which can raise blood glucose levels and worsen diabetic complications. In remote or rural areas, more frequent and intense heatwaves can disrupt access to refrigeration and make storing insulin difficult.
The region is especially vulnerable to climate change and prone to frequent and severe tropical storms and typhoons, which are expected to become more intense as global temperatures rise. These extreme weather events contribute to a series of challenges ranging from food security to a scarcity of drinking water and increases in communicable and respiratory diseases. For people with diabetes, these challenges are compounded by access to healthcare and treatment.
In response to this precarity, a recent programme piloted in Australia and New Zealand will establish essential emergency warehouses in 15 Western Pacific countries. These warehouses will store material, including insulin, essential diabetes medication, and devices for the first 48 or 72 hours of a disaster before aid can physically reach disaster areas.
The specificities of the Western Pacific region necessitate tailored approaches that include regional and global solutions for the prevention and management of diabetes. Furthermore, the combination of physical, social, and healthcare-related challenges highlights the need for increased resilience, better healthcare infrastructure, and improved climate adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable populations.
You may also find these interesting
