By Colin Kenny, GP, Dromore
The authors of this study were motivated by the observation that South Asian people experience a 50% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than other populations. They conducted a systematic review of intervention studies for type 2 diabetes management in South Asian people. In all, 23 studies were analysed (with a combined 3613 participants) – seven conducted in Western countries and 16 conducted in people living in South Asia.
The more successful interventions for reducing HbA1c had a tendency to be conducted among South Asians living in India than in other areas, and those interventions included yoga and exercise. While studies from both Western countries and South Asian countries observed improvements in lipid and blood pressure outcomes, studies from India more often reported reduction in BMI and waist circumference and improved diabetes knowledge. The authors concluded that novel, engagement-promoting interventions, such as yoga or dance, are needed to improve glycaemic control in South Asians people living in Western countries.
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