Parmjit Sohal
University of British Columbia, Canada
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
South Asians represent almost 25% of the global population. They are at least 3-5 times increased risk of developing diabetes as compared to Caucasians. There is also increased risk of diabetes in South Asians children and adolescents. South Asians have increased prevalence of pre-diabetes states in addition to diabetes. Despite increased prevalence of diabetes among South Asians, majority of the cases remain undiagnosed and poorly controlled. There are several barriers in the prevention and management of diabetes in South Asians which could be at patient, provider or the society level. Primary prevention needs collaboration with health care professionals, community leaders and funding agencies. Our recent Canadian study has shown that that 86% of South Asians diagnosed with diabetes less than 30 years of age were type-2 diabetes. The incidence of type 2 diabetes was highest in South Asians especially in 20-29 year olds with rates 2.2 times that of White and 3.1 times that of Chinese patients. South Asians patients should be screened for diabetes at relatively younger age (preferably starting at age 20) and more frequently than non-South Asians with appropriate prevention efforts in childhood and adolescence. South Asians should be aggressively managed for cardiovascular risk factors due to their high mortality rates from cardiovascular disease. A structured culturally and linguistically relevant program of life style modifications that includes healthy diet, weight control and regular exercise should be implemented to reduce the risk and burden of type 2 diabetes in South Asians.
Email: drsohal@shaw.ca
