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Cultural and Religious Influences in Diabetes Care in Great Britain
Author(s) -
Hawthorne K.,
Mello M.,
Tomlinson S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1993.tb01989.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , context (archaeology) , indian subcontinent , affect (linguistics) , diabetes management , compliance (psychology) , type 2 diabetes , family medicine , gerontology , traditional medicine , ethnology , social psychology , endocrinology , history , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , psychology , biology
Type 2 diabetes is four times more common in people originating from the Indian subcontinent (Asians) than in white English Caucasians. British Asians with diabetes have been shown to have poorer blood glucose control, awareness of diabetes management, and knowledge of complications. This review examines some of the dietary customs that can affect glucose control, problems with communication and diabetic education, and a brief description of health beliefs commonly held by Asian patients that may help the physician understand why some patients appear to show poor compliance with accepted Western medicine. Patients must always be approached as individuals with their own unique needs within the context of their cultural backgrounds.