Purpose of review: This review summarizes the burden of diabetes in South Asian populations and reviews recent evidence for diabetes prevention through lifestyle modification among South Asians worldwide. We indicate important gaps in the current literature and point to opportunities for additional research in this area.
Recent findings: Randomized, controlled, efficacy studies and implementation research show that lifestyle intervention can be an effective, cost-effective, and feasible method for reducing diabetes risk, improving cardiometabolic health, and improving lifestyle behaviors in South Asian populations, a population at high diabetes risk and elevated rates of diabetes risk factors. Additional research is needed to address diabetes risk reduction in normal-weight South Asians and individuals with impaired fasting glucose; improve community-level implementation, individual uptake, and dissemination of proven programs; and assess long-term outcomes of interventions.
Keywords: Implementation research; Lifestyle; Prediabetes; Prevention; South Asian; Type 2 diabetes.