Estimation of diabetes prevalence among immigrants from the Middle East in Sweden by using three different data sources

The association between apolipoprotein M and insulin resistance varies with country of birth

“…The prevalence of T2DM in the immigrant population in Sweden has been shown to be higher compared to that in native Swedes [3]. Immigrants from the Middle East are known to have a different form of T2DM compared to the Swedish born population [4].…”

“…In Sweden, the prevalence of T2DM among non-European immigrants is estimated to be 2-3 times higher than among native Swedes [3]. In addition, T2DM develops an average of 10 years earlier in immigrants from the Middle East than in native Swedes, and Middle Eastern immigrants diagnosed with T2DM more frequently have a family history of diabetes [4].…”

Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Swedes and Assyrians/Syrians with Type 2 Diabetes: Association with Lifestyle-Related Factors

“…A number of previous studies suggest that ethnicity is important in diabetes and a number of studies have shown that immigrants from the Middle East have a higher prevalence of diabetes than persons in the non-immigrant population [12,13,15,[25][26][27].…”

“…A recently published review of 17 articles on diabetes in Nordic countries concluded that immigrant groups had up to ten times higher risk than the non-immigrant populations; excess risk was particularly striking high in immigrants from the Middle East and South Asian regions [11]. Several Swedish studies show that the prevalence of diabetes in persons from nonEuropean and Middle Eastern countries is three to four times higher than in Swedish-born subjects [12,13]. The Middle Eastern immigrants have a higher prevalence of overweight and develop type 2 diabetes earlier in life than Swedish-born subjects.…”

“…The Middle Eastern immigrants have a higher prevalence of overweight and develop type 2 diabetes earlier in life than Swedish-born subjects. Possible contributing factors include stress caused by changes in lifestyle following migration [12,14]. Other factors related to migration also may increase the prevalence of overweight and obesity.…”