Diabetes could threaten the existence of indigenous peoples around the world, experts have warned.

Scientists meeting at a diabetes conference in Melbourne heard such tribes faced extinction this century unless obesity was tackled.

Western diets and sedentary lifestyles are leading to obesity and a rise in Type 2 diabetes in Asia, the Pacific, Australia and the Americas.

Professor Martin Silink, head of the International Diabetes Foundation, which was holding the conference, said indigenous peoples were at a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes because of their genetic make-up.

Canadian diabetes expert Professor Stewart Harris said diabetes posed a serious threat.

"The rapid cultural transition over one to two generations of many indigenous communities to a Western diet and sedentary lifestyle has led to diabetes replacing infectious diseases as the number one threat to their survival," he said.

Professor Paul Zimmet director of the International Diabetes Institute, said: "We are dealing with the biggest epidemic in world history.

"Without urgent action there certainly is a real risk of a major wipe-out of indigenous communities, if not total extinction, within this century.

"It could also mean the end of some of our treasured indigenous groups."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6143182.stm

[If only these experts had the bravery to say that democracy and its latent ethno-cultural intolerance causes these issues, we might be a step closer to a saner world!]