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During the past two decades, diabetes has become one of the
most alarming public health problems. The rapid increase in
the prevalence of obesity, type-2 diabetes and associated
complications (diabesity) is a major global health problem
worldwide.
Evolution suggests the inevitability of the passage of "thrifty
genes" from generation to generation, providing protection
during times of famine but predisposing the carriers of these
genes to obesity and type 2 diabetes in times of plenty. The
close relationship of obesity and type 2 diabetes with a cluster
of cardiovascular risk factors has produced the terms "diabesity"
and "metabolic syndrome."
Diabesity is a challenging condition that requires an integrated
understanding of diabetes and obesity, as well as a coherent
management plan that will drive forward effective measures
for both prevention and intervention.
To prevent and treat diabesity, there is a need to develop
approaches to modulate the ways in which the body controls
metabolism, body weight and composition.
The conference brings together basic and clinical scientists
aiming at identifying new factors implicated in obesity and
diabetes, and to develop strategies for validating these factors
as targets for future pharmacological manipulation, as well
as identifying possibly several new drug targets for the treatment
and prevention of diabesity. There is undoubtedly much still
to learn about diabetes and obesity.
Alebiosu C. Olutayo
Olabisi Onabanjo University,
Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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| | Dr
ALEBIOSU Christopher Olutayo BSc, MBChB, FWACP is a fellow
of the West African Postgraduate Medical College and Reader
in Medicine of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye,
Ogun State, Nigeria. He maintains the position as a Consultant
Physician to the Teaching Hospital arm of the University.
He is the Principal Investigator of the World Diabetes Foundation
sponsored SIDCAIN Project in Nigeria (WDF08-321): the Strategies
for Improving Diabetes Care in Nigeria. He has many scientific
publications to his credit, mainly in the field of diabetic
nephropathy, hypertension and nephrology. He has attended
numerous scientific conferences both within and outside Nigeria. |
| His scientific contributions
include over 70 invited lectures, presentations and publications.
He distinguished himself in the first Nigerian Study on Clinico-pathological
Study of Diabetic Nephropathy based on renal biopsy. Through
one of his research publications, the home institution awarded
him the Nigerian University Commission Award for indigenous
research in 2004. He also won competitive training fellowship
awards including World Diabetes Federation Fellowship / International
Diabetes Federation Fellowship Award 2003 (Groote Schuur Hospital,
University of Capetown, Republic of South Africa); International
Society of Peritoneal dialysis Fellowship Training (2005)
and IDF-BRIDGES Translational Research Grants Course, Ghana,
2008. He is a co-editor of, and contributor to the ‘Simplified
complete handbook on diabetes’ published locally in
2007. He also co-authored a ‘Diabetes info booklet’
in the same year.
His scientific and professional activities include Fellow,
West African College of Physicians (FWACP), Nigerian Medical
Association, Director and Board Member, Diabetes Center of
the Olabisi Onabanjo University; Executive Member, Nephrology
Association of Nigeria, Editorial Board, Isegun Medical Journal
and the Diabetes Association of Nigeria. He is a peer reviewer
to over 15 local and international medical journals.
He is the Associate Professor of Medicine of the Olabisi Onabanjo
University (formerly Ogun State University), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun
State, and also the founding Director of the Diabetes Center
affiliated to the University.
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