New Type 2 Diabetes Therapy Focus Area Launches on epgonline.org

Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom, April 29, 2015 --(PR.com)-- A new Therapy Focus area has just launched on epgonline.org, the website for healthcare professionals. This new resource contains information for healthcare professionals based in Europe on the use of insulin/incretin treatment combinations for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In 2013, type 2 diabetes mellitus caused 618,600 deaths in Europe and €106 billion was spent on healthcare costs1. The current prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Europe is 56.3 million people (8.5% of the adult population) with the age at diagnosis becoming increasingly younger1. It is estimated that by 2035, the prevalence in Europe will be 68.9 million (10.3% of the adult population)1.

There have been a number of calls to develop a targeted prevention and management programme for type 2 diabetes mellitus2. Emerging combination treatments containing insulin may be useful in addressing unmet needs in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and introduction at an early stage could potentially allow early aggressive therapy approaches to optimise long-term treatment outcomes3.

The Insulin/Incretin Combination Therapy Focus area is available at the following URL: http://www.epgonline.org/diabetes/type-2/therapy-focus/, within the Type 2 Diabetes Learning Zone. Healthcare professionals can also visit the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Knowledge Centre, which has recently been updated with new diagnosis and treatment information and a brand new guidelines section, and a new accredited CME activity via the learning zone here: http://www.epgonline.org/diabetes/type-2/.

The Therapy Focus area is split into five sections containing recommendations for lifestyle interventions and education programmes for diabetes patients, an overview of clinical data, the rationale for complementary insulin/incretin-based therapies, a review of factors that can impact adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus and an exploration of the link between obesity and diabetes.

“With the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the age at diagnosis becoming younger over time, it is important that we embrace emerging avenues of treatment to improve the day-to-day management of this disease,” said Dr Toby Galbraith, Director of Content Strategy for epgonline.org. “We hope that healthcare professionals will find this Therapy Focus area a useful resource in their knowledge of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its management.” The Type 2 Diabetes Therapy Focus area is supported by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk.

Notes to Editors:

· EPG Health Media (Europe) Ltd publishes www.epgonline.org, an independent website dedicated to providing healthcare professionals worldwide with free access to a comprehensive range of disease and medicines information. Categorised by medical specialty, content within epgonline.org includes a multi-language database of approved medications, treatment guidelines, clinical trial reports, journal abstracts, latest medical industry news, apps and a blog written by members.

· Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. Additionally, the company has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk has approximately 38,000 employees across 75 countries, with a market spanning more than 180 countries.

· This Therapy Focus area has been reviewed for clinical accuracy by Professor Stephen Gough, Oxford Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), University of Oxford, UK. Professor Gough is Clinical Lead for the NIHR Clinical Research Network, Thames Valley and South Midlands, and the Oxford Academic Health Science Network.

References:

1. Ahrén, Insulin plus incretin: A glucose-lowering strategy for type 2-diabetes. World J Diabetes 2014;5:40-51

2. IDF Diabetes Atlas Sixth Edition 2013. International Diabetes Federation. www.idf.org/diabetesatlas.

3. Schwarz PE, Lindström J, Kissimova-Scarbeck K, et al. DE-PLAN project. The European perspective of type 2 diabetes prevention: diabetes in Europe – prevention using lifestyle, physical activity and nutritional intervention (DE-PLAN) project. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2008;116:167–72.