The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study

Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen; Christian Stevns Hansen; Jesper Fleischer; Ninna Senftleber; Frederik Filip Stæger; Torben Hansen; Daniel R Witte; Marit Eika Jørgensen

doi:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179

The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study

Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen^*
, Christian Stevns Hansen
, Jesper Fleischer
, Ninna Senftleber
, Frederik Filip Stæger
, Torben Hansen
, Daniel R Witte
, Marit Eika Jørgensen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Steno Diabetes Centre Zealand

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

AIMS: Data on diabetic neuropathies in Greenland remains limited. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes and investigate whether Inuit ancestry contributes to higher susceptibility.

METHODS: Individuals with diabetes and prediabetes from the Greenland Population Survey 2018 were examined for DPN (Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT) and light pressure) and CAN (Cardiovascular Reflex Tests and Heart Rate Variability). Inuit genetic admixture was included as a determinant in regression models adjusted for age, sex, genetics, diabetes status and residency.

RESULTS: Among 447 participants (1/3 diabetes, median age 61, 57 % female) DPN prevalence was 28 % in diabetes and 25 % in prediabetes. CAN prevalence was 24 % and 15 %, respectively. A 20-percentage point change in Inuit ancestry was associated with a 4 % higher VPT (coefficient: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.003-1.08) and 51 % higher odds of CAN (OR: 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.09-2.08).

CONCLUSIONS: DPN and CAN are common among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and prevention. The association between Inuit genetic ancestry and neuropathy suggests a predisposition to neuropathy among Inuit, which may be explained by both genetic and lifestyle factors.

Original language	English
Article number	109179
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Diabetes and its Complications
Volume	39
Issue number	11
Early online date	2 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179
Publication status	Published - Nov 2025

Funding

FundingThis work was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation [NNF 17SH0027192 and NNF 17OC0028136] ; Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus (SDCA) which is partially funded by an unrestricted donation from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

Funders	Funder number
Novo Nordisk Foundation	NNF 17SH0027192, NNF 17OC0028136
Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Denmark.
Aarhus University

Keywords

Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetic Neuropathies/epidemiology
Female
Greenland/epidemiology
Humans
Inuit/genetics
Male
Middle Aged
Prediabetic State/epidemiology
Prevalence
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy
Greenlandic Inuit
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Vibration perception threshold
Heart rate variability

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10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179

Cite this

Christensen, M. M. B., Hansen, C. S., Fleischer, J., Senftleber, N., Stæger, F. F., Hansen, T., Witte, D. R., & Jørgensen, M. E. (2025). The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 39(11), Article 109179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179

@article{1da836c6b2ed49cc91a5c5443c6ca170,

title = "The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study",

abstract = "AIMS: Data on diabetic neuropathies in Greenland remains limited. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes and investigate whether Inuit ancestry contributes to higher susceptibility.METHODS: Individuals with diabetes and prediabetes from the Greenland Population Survey 2018 were examined for DPN (Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT) and light pressure) and CAN (Cardiovascular Reflex Tests and Heart Rate Variability). Inuit genetic admixture was included as a determinant in regression models adjusted for age, sex, genetics, diabetes status and residency.RESULTS: Among 447 participants (1/3 diabetes, median age 61, 57 \% female) DPN prevalence was 28 \% in diabetes and 25 \% in prediabetes. CAN prevalence was 24 \% and 15 \%, respectively. A 20-percentage point change in Inuit ancestry was associated with a 4 \% higher VPT (coefficient: 1.04, 95 \% CI: 1.003-1.08) and 51 \% higher odds of CAN (OR: 1.51, 95 \% CI: 1.09-2.08).CONCLUSIONS: DPN and CAN are common among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and prevention. The association between Inuit genetic ancestry and neuropathy suggests a predisposition to neuropathy among Inuit, which may be explained by both genetic and lifestyle factors.",

keywords = "Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetic Neuropathies/epidemiology, Female, Greenland/epidemiology, Humans, Inuit/genetics, Male, Middle Aged, Prediabetic State/epidemiology, Prevalence, Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, Diabetic neuropathy, Greenlandic Inuit, Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Vibration perception threshold, Heart rate variability",

author = "Christensen, \{Marie Mathilde Bjerg\} and Hansen, \{Christian Stevns\} and Jesper Fleischer and Ninna Senftleber and St{\ae}ger, \{Frederik Filip\} and Torben Hansen and Witte, \{Daniel R\} and J{\o}rgensen, \{Marit Eika\}",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179",

language = "English",

volume = "39",

journal = "Journal of Diabetes and its Complications",

issn = "1056-8727",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "11",

}

The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study. / Christensen, Marie Mathilde Bjerg; Hansen, Christian Stevns; Fleischer, Jesper et al.
In: Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, Vol. 39, No. 11, 109179, 11.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study

AU - Christensen, Marie Mathilde Bjerg

AU - Hansen, Christian Stevns

AU - Fleischer, Jesper

AU - Senftleber, Ninna

AU - Stæger, Frederik Filip

AU - Hansen, Torben

AU - Witte, Daniel R

AU - Jørgensen, Marit Eika

PY - 2025/11

Y1 - 2025/11

N2 - AIMS: Data on diabetic neuropathies in Greenland remains limited. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes and investigate whether Inuit ancestry contributes to higher susceptibility.METHODS: Individuals with diabetes and prediabetes from the Greenland Population Survey 2018 were examined for DPN (Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT) and light pressure) and CAN (Cardiovascular Reflex Tests and Heart Rate Variability). Inuit genetic admixture was included as a determinant in regression models adjusted for age, sex, genetics, diabetes status and residency.RESULTS: Among 447 participants (1/3 diabetes, median age 61, 57 % female) DPN prevalence was 28 % in diabetes and 25 % in prediabetes. CAN prevalence was 24 % and 15 %, respectively. A 20-percentage point change in Inuit ancestry was associated with a 4 % higher VPT (coefficient: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.003-1.08) and 51 % higher odds of CAN (OR: 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.09-2.08).CONCLUSIONS: DPN and CAN are common among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and prevention. The association between Inuit genetic ancestry and neuropathy suggests a predisposition to neuropathy among Inuit, which may be explained by both genetic and lifestyle factors.

AB - AIMS: Data on diabetic neuropathies in Greenland remains limited. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes and investigate whether Inuit ancestry contributes to higher susceptibility.METHODS: Individuals with diabetes and prediabetes from the Greenland Population Survey 2018 were examined for DPN (Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT) and light pressure) and CAN (Cardiovascular Reflex Tests and Heart Rate Variability). Inuit genetic admixture was included as a determinant in regression models adjusted for age, sex, genetics, diabetes status and residency.RESULTS: Among 447 participants (1/3 diabetes, median age 61, 57 % female) DPN prevalence was 28 % in diabetes and 25 % in prediabetes. CAN prevalence was 24 % and 15 %, respectively. A 20-percentage point change in Inuit ancestry was associated with a 4 % higher VPT (coefficient: 1.04, 95 % CI: 1.003-1.08) and 51 % higher odds of CAN (OR: 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.09-2.08).CONCLUSIONS: DPN and CAN are common among Greenlanders with diabetes and prediabetes, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and prevention. The association between Inuit genetic ancestry and neuropathy suggests a predisposition to neuropathy among Inuit, which may be explained by both genetic and lifestyle factors.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Diabetic Neuropathies/epidemiology

KW - Female

KW - Greenland/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Inuit/genetics

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prediabetic State/epidemiology

KW - Prevalence

KW - Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy

KW - Diabetic neuropathy

KW - Greenlandic Inuit

KW - Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

KW - Vibration perception threshold

KW - Heart rate variability

U2 - 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179

DO - 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2025.109179

M3 - Article

C2 - 41056699

SN - 1056-8727

VL - 39

JO - Journal of Diabetes and its Complications

JF - Journal of Diabetes and its Complications

IS - 11

M1 - 109179

ER -

The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Greenland and its association with Inuit genetic ancestry - a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

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