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Using link workers and extra community diabetes specialist nurse input together with treatment protocols in primary care might prove a useful strategy in working towards NSF targets for diabetes management. In this study, small reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol were achieved. Improvement in glycaemic control may require longer and possibly different strategies. Further research is required to evaluate fully the effectiveness, including the costs and longer term sustainability of culturally sensitive initiatives.

OBJECTIVEDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in type 2 diabetes and increases oxidative stress. Hence, OSA could promote the development and progression of DN.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis was a cohort study in adults with type 2 diabetes. Patients with known OSA or ESRD were excluded. DN was defined as the presence of albuminuria or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. DN progression was based on eGFR measurements. OSA was defined as apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5 events/h. Serum nitrotyrosine abundance (a marker of nitrosative stress) was measured by ELISA.RESULTSA total of 224 patients were included. OSA and DN prevalence was 64.3 and 40.2, respectively. DN prevalence was higher in patients with OSA (OSA+) compared with those without OSA (OSA−) (49.3% vs. 23.8%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, OSA (odds ratio 2.64 [95% CI 1.13–6.16], P = 0.02) remained independently associated with DN. After an average follow-up of 2.5 (0.7) years, eGFR decline was greater in OSA+ compared with OSA− patients (median −6.8% [interquartile range −16.1 to 2.2] vs. −1.6% [−7.7 to 5.3%], P = 0.002). After adjusting, both baseline OSA (B = −3.8, P = 0.044) and AHI (B = −4.6, P = 0.02) remained independent predictors of study-end eGFR. Baseline serum nitrotyrosine abundance (B = −0.24, P = 0.015) was an independent predictor of study-end eGFR after adjustment.CONCLUSIONSOSA is independently associated with DN in type 2 diabetes. eGFR declined faster in patients with OSA. Nitrosative stress may provide a pathogenetic link between OSA and DN. Interventional studies assessing the impact of OSA treatment on DN are needed.

A popular hypothesis for the greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in UK south Asians is that they have an increased susceptibility of developing insulin resistance in response to certain environmental factors, including obesity and adoption of a sedentary lifestyle. Insulin resistance is postulated as a central feature of the metabolic syndrome, culminating in type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic vascular disease and CHD; a pathway potentially accelerated by migration/ urbanisation. We describe and compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and their associated risk factors in UK south Asian and white Caucasian populations to determine possible reasons for the increased preponderance of these diseases in south Asians, and highlight key evidence for optimal risk factor management. Finally, we describe a UK communitybased programme that attempts to reduce the morbidity and mortality from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in south Asians through a new approach to management.