Main institution:
Centro de Investigacion en Salud (CIS)

Other institutions:
Alcadía de Barranquilla (Municipality of Barranquilla)
Universidad Libre Seccional Atlántico
University Atlántico
University San Martin

Principal investigator:
Jaakko Tuomilehto

Other investigators:
Astrid Arrieta Molinares; Carlos Ricaurte Rojas; Tania Matilde Acosta Vergara; Noel Christopher Barengo; Rafael Gabriel Sanchez; Jesus Iglesias

Location of the project:
Barranquilla, Colombia

Amount allocated:
USD 400,000

Date:
July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013

Objectives:
The main aim of this study is to investigate to what extent it is possible to reach normal glucose metabolism and optimal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor levels with early lifestyle interventions in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those who receive standard therapy (usual care) only. The project will show the effect of these interventions for the first time in people of low socio-economic levels living in a Caribbean environment.

Results to date (November 2012):

Already at this stage, the project forms and important part of the local health-care system and discussions with national authorities has started.

Article

• Diabetes Voice, June 2011 "Building expertise in nutrition and behaviour in the Colombian Caribbean: Promising advances  against diabetes" [2]
• El Heraldo January 21, 2013 "Guerra a la diabetes en el Distrito con aliados europeos" [3]

BRIDGES (Bringing Research in Diabetes to Global Environments and Systems) is a programme initiated by the International Diabetes Federation [4], and supported by an educational grant from Lilly Diabetes.