ABSTRACT
72 Objective: To review the current literature on diabetes mellitus (DM) and gestational diabetes in the South Asian American (SAA) population, detailing the pathophysiology, risk factors, and impact on overall health. The chapter concludes with a summary of ongoing research and community-based interventions to address diabetes in the SAA community and provides recommendations on future directions.
Key Findings: The rates of diabetes are significantly higher in SAAs compared to other ethnic groups with similar risk factor profiles. One theory suggests the cause is a combination of lifestyle choices and an adverse metabolic profile, culminating in the clinical picture of insulin resistance. Other theories focus on genetic risk factors. Similar to DM, gestational diabetes is also found in a higher proportion of SAA pregnancies, and is thought to stem from pregestational insulin resistance. Subsequently, this poses an increased risk of diabetes developing in both the mother and child.
Recommendations: Lifestyle modifications remain the most effective means of disease prevention with culturally adapted dietary recommendations yielding the greatest compliance. Increased physical activity to at least 60 minutes daily is also recommended. More research needs to be done on the impact of gestational diabetes in offspring in order for more targeted screening and intervention programs to be implemented.
