A research team at Høgskulen på Vestlandet has this week published an article in the international journal Diabetologia. There is a fairly strong connection between loneliness and type 2 diabetes, the report states. Diabetes type 2 The most common form of diabetes. The disease is partly due to reduced insulin production, partly because the insulin works too poorly. To a certain extent, it can be regulated and treated with weight loss, physical activity and diet, but for most, drug treatment will also be necessary. Over 200,000 Norwegians have diabetes type 2. More and more people are getting the disease, as a consequence mainly of increasing obesity and physical inactivity in the population. Source: The Diabetes Association Here’s how it’s connected: The feeling of loneliness concretely contributes to blood sugar values becoming higher over a long period of time, which can subsequently lead to the development of the disease. – What we found was that those who answered that they had a high degree of loneliness also had twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes during the 20-year period we followed them, says associate professor Roger Ekeberg Henriksen. Associate professor Roger Ekeberg Henriksen says several studies indicate a clear connection between loneliness and diabetes type 2. Photo: Kamilla Hedvig Halvorsen Myklebust The researchers have looked at material collected through the Health Survey in Nord-Trøndelag, HUNT. The research is based on analysis of blood sugar values over 20 years for 24,000 patients. For large parts of the period, the same patients were asked questions about their own experience of loneliness. While the researchers were working on the article on diabetes, two other research groups in Great Britain and Denmark published findings that showed a similar connection. Henriksen clarifies that loneliness is only one of several factors that can trigger the disease. – It is still the case that diet and physical activity are the factors that have the greatest importance for type 2 diabetes. But with our findings, we can say that loneliness is also an important contributor. Diet and lack of physical activity are the most important causes of type 2 diabetes. Photo: Giorgio Rossi / Colourbox Big problem The finding is important because type 2 diabetes is on the rise in the western world, says Henriksen. Today, around 300,000 Norwegians have type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers diabetes to be one of the top ten diseases from which most people die. – The finding should have consequences for how GPs prevent serious illness. In consultations, they should not only ask their patients about physical activity and diet, but also about how things are going with their social relationships, says Henriksen. Around 300,000 Norwegians have diabetes type 2. Photo: Mari Aftret Mørtvedt / news He envisions GPs changing their routines when meeting with patients, based on the new findings. – We have a high level of knowledge in the population about diet and physical activity. So there should be an equally strong focus on how people’s social relations are. Positive for change GP and specialist in general medicine, Harald Sundby, reacts positively when he hears about the new research. – I welcome this type of research, he says immediately. Sundby also leads a professional group for clinical communication in the Medical Association and says that through long practice as a GP he has thought about the idea that loneliness can lead to other illnesses. – This type of research can confirm what accumulated experience over 30 years has given me. It is important that we get more documentable findings on this, he says. General practitioner and specialist, Harald Sundby, says the new research is in line with his own experience. Photo: Hanna Helgetun Krogh He himself has had patients who are very much alone in life, where he sees how it intensifies various types of suffering, both physical and psychological. Sundby believes that doctors are positive about changing their practice in consultation with patients, as long as it is based on documented findings. The challenge is the time crunch, where there are often several things to discuss with the patient. – We are very happy about professional development. When this comes to the table, we will welcome it and see what we can do with it.
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Clear connection between loneliness and diabetes 2 – news Vestland
