Mo’ui lelei metapoliki (Metabolic) (Metabolic Health)

Ko e ha e ngaahi mahaki metapoliki? (What is a metabolic disease?)

Ko e mahaki metapoliki ko e maumau ‘oku hoko ‘o ne uesia ai ‘a e faka’aonga’i ‘e he sino ‘a e me’atokoni ke ma’u mei ai ha ivi. Ko e fakatātā ‘e taha ‘o ha mahaki metapoliki ko e fu’u ma’olunga e suká ‘i he totó – ‘a e mahaki suká, pea ‘oku kau mai ki ‘a e toto ma’olunga, mahamahaki ‘a e kofuua pea mo e kauti.

Metabolic diseases are disorders that disrupt our metabolism, which is the process of converting our food into energy. One example is when we have too much sugar in the blood from diabetes. Some other examples include high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and gout.

Ko e ha hono ‘uhinga? (Why does it matter?)

Ko e fakautuutu ‘a e puke 'i he suká, ‘oku na fetākinima mo e lahi ange ‘a e sisinó pea ‘oku hoko ia koha faingata’a’ia lahi ‘aupito eni 'i Aotearoa.  ‘Oku hanga ‘e he mahaki suká ‘o tohoaki'i mai mo e ngaahi mahaki kehekehe, ka ‘oku te’eki ke lava ke fakapapau’i mo’oni ‘a e fekau’aki ‘a e sisinó, suká mo e mahaki mafú pea mo e ngaahi liliu ‘oku hoko 'i hono faka’aonga'i ‘e he ‘a e sinó ‘a e me’atokoní ke ma’u ai ‘a e iví (metabolism).

The rate of type 2 diabetes is increasing hand-in-hand with obesity and poses a major health problem in Aotearoa. Diabetes is known to accelerate many other disease processes, however it is still unclear exactly how some of these changes in our metabolism are associated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

'I hono fakafehoanaki ‘o e kakai Maori mo e Pasifiki ‘oku nau puke 'i he suka taipe 2, mo kinautolu mei he ngaahi fonua tupu’anga (ethnic) kehe ‘oku nau 'i Aotearoá, ‘oku hā mai ‘oku ‘ikai ma’u ‘e he kakai Maori mo e Pasifii ia ha ola lelei mei ai pe ‘oku ‘ikai pe ke nau ma’u faito’o. ‘Oku fakataumu’a ‘emau fakatotoló ke kumi ha ngaahi founga tauhi mahaki fo’ou ‘oku tuha totonu mo e fa’ahinga kakai takitaha.

Compared to other ethnic groups, Māori and Pacific Peoples living with Type 2 diabetes in Aotearoa are either prescribed less effective medication or no medication at all. Our research aims to improve these inequities by finding out what the best treatment options are for different people.

Ko e hā leva ‘a e ngāue ‘oku fai ‘e he Maurice Wilkins Centre ke ta’ofi’aki  ‘a e e ngaahi mahaki  Metapoliki? (What does the Maurice Wilkins Centre do to combat metabolic diseases?)

‘Oku fakatokanga’i ‘e he kau fakatotolo mo fekumi ‘a e Maurice Wilkins Centre ‘oku fua ‘e he kakai e ni’ihi ‘o hangē ko e kakai Māori mo Pasifiki, ‘a e kanongatāmaki ‘o e ngaahi faingata’a’ia ni pea ‘oku totonu ke fakakau mo fakamu’omu’a kinautolu ‘i he fatongia ngāué ni.

Maurice Wilkins Centre researchers realise that certain populations such as Māori and Pacific carry the burden of these health issues and that these groups need active involvement and prioritisation in this journey.

Kapau ‘e uhoaki ‘a e kakai Māori mo Pasifiki ‘a e   founga fekumi ‘oku fakahokó, ‘oku ‘i ai e faka’amu ke faka’aonga'i ha founga fo’ou ke ma’u ai  ha femahino’aki mo e tapa kotoa ‘o e komiuntī ni, ke toe mahino lelei ange ai ‘a e ngaahi faingata’a’ia ko’eni.

By centralising Māori and Pacific people in the research process we plan to diversify the way in which we understand these problems by using innovative solutions to engage with all layers of the community.

Te mau faka’aonga’i e ngaahi ‘ilo, taukei 'i he suka mo e ngaahi mahaki metapoliki ke kumi’aki ha ngaahi founga tauhi mahaki mo ha faito’o fo’ou ki he suka mo e ‘uuni mahaki ‘oku tupu mei ai kae’uma’ā ‘a e ngahi mahaki kehekehe ‘o hangē ko e kauti.

Utilising the strengths already in place, the Maurice Wilkins Centre research programme in diabetes and other metabolic conditions aims to identify pathways to new, equitable treatments for diabetes, its associated complications and other metabolic diseases such as gout.