Diabetes Prevention in the New York City Sikh Asian Indian Community: A Pilot Study

Abstract

India has one of the highest burdens of diabetes worldwide, and rates of diabetes are also high among Asian Indian immigrants that have migrated into the United States (U.S.). Sikhs represent a significant portion of Asian Indians in the U.S. Diabetes prevention programs have shown the benefits of using lifestyle intervention to reduce diabetes risk, yet there have been no culturally-tailored programs for diabetes prevention in the Sikh community. Using a quasi-experimental two-arm design, 126 Sikh Asian Indians living in New York City were enrolled in a six-workshop intervention led by community health workers. A total of 108 participants completed baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys between March 2012 and October 2013. Main outcome measures included clinical variables (weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol) and health behaviors (changes in physical activity, food behaviors, and diabetes knowledge). Changes were significant for the treatment group in weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, physical activity, food behaviors, and diabetes knowledge, and between group differences were significant for glucose, diabetes knowledge, portion control, and physical activity social interaction. Retention rates were high. Findings demonstrate that a diabetes prevention program in the Sikh community is acceptable, feasible, and efficacious.

Building Capacity in the Sikh Asian Indian Community to Lead Participatory Oral Health Projects

“…20 UNITED SIKHS had longstanding experience hosting health clinics in the Sikh Asian Indian community, where a high prevalence of diabetes had been documented among its members, thus making diabetes prevention a priority need.…”

“…29 Further details regarding the methods and procedures are available elsewhere. 20 The NYU School of Medicine Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved all protocols for this assessment and subsequent interventions, with PRC investigators and staff completing all of the requisite submissions and attendant requirements.…”

“…Acknowledging the need to relieve stress, Naam Simran, a meditative practice in Sikhism, was championed as a health promotion practice. 20 …”

“…First, we detail how UNITED SIKHS, a community-based organization serving the Sikh Asian Indian population, identified oral health care as a priority need through a community needs and resources assessment completed in 2010 as part of a CBPR diabetes prevention intervention. 20,21 Second, we demonstrate how UNITED SIKHS used local data to develop a culturally tailored oral health and healthy living curriculum for the Sikh Asian Indian community. 21 …”

Defining an Integrative Approach for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: A Population Health Equity Framework

“…For instance, our efforts to reduce health inequalities are focused on closing current gaps in health status experienced by disadvantaged populations, through community health worker interventions that seek to improve positive health contexts, behaviors, and outcomes at the individual and family level while recognizing the role of global factors on local Asian American communities, many of whom have extended ancestral and familial roots in their countries of origin. 3–10 …”