Open AccessEpidemiology of microvascular complications of diabetes in South Asians and comparison with other ethnicities
Author(s) -
Gupta Ritesh,
Misra Anoop
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.949
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1753-0407
pISSN - 1753-0393
DOI - 10.1111/1753-0407.12378
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , epidemiology , south asia , nephropathy , disease , ethnic group , diabetic retinopathy , retinopathy , endocrinology , ethnology , sociology , anthropology , history
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is widely prevalent in South Asians, and has a significant effect on health, as well as the economies of South Asian countries, particularly when the disease is associated with complications. There are certain characteristics associated with the South Asian phenotype that make South Asians especially prone to diabetes, as well as its complications. Microvascular complications cause considerable morbidity and mortality. There are significant differences in the epidemiology of microvascular complications between South Asians and people of other races. There is evidence of higher prevalence of nephropathy and retinopathy in South Asians compared with Caucasians; however, recent studies indicate that this trend seems to be leveling off. Importantly, diabetic neuropathy occurs less frequently in South Asians compared with Caucasians. These observations have important implications in managing South Asian patients with diabetes and microvascular complications.