Closing the Type 1 Diabetes gap in South-East Asia through government partnership working with non-government organisations

• Main Authors: Ng, Sze May, Malene, I., Nilar, Myint, Rassavong, Khaysy, Vu, Chi Dung, Tan, Florence Hui Sieng, Jalaludin, Muhammad Yazid, Toomey, Charles, Lek, Ngee
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2022
• Subjects: RJ Pediatrics
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/42296/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

This will be the first publication of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes in five low-middle-income countries (LMICs)-Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. The information obtained has been possible due to partnership programmes of non-government organisation Action4Diabetes (A4D) with defined local hospitals through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the governments in SEA that guarantees ongoing supplies of free insulin, blood glucose meter supplies, HbA1c tests and hospital emergency funds. Participants: Between 2020 and 2021, 383 children and young people with T1D who were active in the A4D supported programmes were reviewed including information on health coverage, multidisciplinary team management, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) on admission and insulin regimen. Results: Mean HbA1c between 2020 and 2021 for patients in these LMICs are reported for the first time. The average glycaemic index in the five SEA countries reviewed between 2020 and 2021 were high at 83 mmol/mol (9.7%). Conclusions: Government partnership working with non-government organisations to support T1D from diagnosis to adulthood are the first steps to closing the gaps in many LMICs. Further epidemiological studies are needed to identify the glycaemic outcomes and DKA rates on admission for many of these countries.