Evaluation of an intervention to prevent diabetes type 2/metabolic syndrom among Pakistani women immigrants, main focus on physical activity

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (DM2) is rising in all parts of the world. There is a higher prevalence of (DM2)among some immigrant groups, compared to the native population in the Western world. Women from Pakistanseem to be particularly predisposed. People originating from Pakistan are the largest immigrant group in Norway, and is thereby an important group in a public health perspective. Identification of culture-specific preventive strategies is crucial. The main aim of this project is to identify appropriate intervention methods to prevent (DM2) among immigrants within the primary health care system. An intervention is planned, including 140 women, originating from Pakistan. They will be divided into 1)a control group 2) an intervention group rece iving systematic and cultural adapted lifestyle (physical activity and diet) education and counselling and exercise sessions. This application concerns evaluation of the intervention focusing on physical activity. The evaluation project will use anthropom etric (weight, height, waist/hip circumference), blood sampling (a number of parameters, such as blood glucose and blood lipids), daily rhythm cortisol, questionnaire about SHC and coping strategies attitudes and experiences regarding the intervention. Th e primary endpoint is fasting plasma glucose and 2-h value after OGTT. Clinical examination, group sessions and individual counselling will be carried out at “Diabetesverkstedet” and “Kloden internasjonale senter”. The exercise groups will be held as clos e as possible to where the participants live. The project is a collaboration between Diabetesverkstedet (Aker University hospital), Section for Prev. Med., Epidem. at University of Oslo, and University of Bergen, Dep. of Bio. and Med. Psyk. The planned pr oject will provide important information for the development of targeted preventive measures in a prioritized group for public health efforts and programs that can be exported to the primary health care.