Diabetes and Associated Complications in the South Asian Population

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in South Asians has significant health and economic implications. South Asians are predisposed to the development of diabetes due to biologic and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, they experience significant morbidity and mortality from complications of diabetes, most notably coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology and genetics of diabetes risk factors and its associated complications in South Asians is paramount to curbing the diabetes epidemic. With this understanding, the appropriate screening, preventative and therapeutic strategies can be implemented and further developed. In this review, we discuss in detail the biologic and lifestyle factors that predispose South Asians to diabetes and review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes in South Asians. We also review the ongoing and completed diabetes prevention and management studies in South Asians.

Genetic disposition and modifiable factors independently associated with anemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the world, and its prevalence, especially in Asians is increasing rapidly [1,2]. Biological factors contributing to this trend include higher insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, impaired pancreatic b-cell function and genetic predisposition.…”

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes in patients with African or Asian background

“…Moreover, the disease occurs on average 5-10 years earlier (7,13,14,41). Among South Asians, insulin resistance probably has more bearing on the development of diabetes than loss of beta-cell function (15).…”

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