The University of Otago's Centre for International Health has
received a grant of about $NZ500,000 through the European
Commission (EC), to research links between tuberculosis (Tb)
and type 2 diabetes.
The size of New Zealand's growing diabetes epidemic has often
been underestimated, and its high costs could prove
overwhelming, unless urgent action is taken, University of
Otago researcher Dr Kirsten Coppell warns.
Any fallout from switching diabetics patients to new
glucose-testing equipment "hasn't really hit yet", several
weeks after the phasing-in period started, Diabetes Otago
office manager Noeline Wedlock says.
