Diabetes in Immigrant Tibetan Muslims in Kashmir, North India
- 3 March 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Vol. 20 (2), 410-415
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0558-8
Abstract
Tibetan Muslims have migrated from Lhasa (3000 m altitude) to Srinagar, India (altitude 1500 m) about 55 years back. We set out to study the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes among this immigrant population. All consenting adults aged ≥18 years were questioned about a previous history of diabetes or any other medical history. Anthropometric data were recorded. Fasting blood glucose was measured in duplicate by Accu-check glucometer and HbA1C levels were measured. Of the 281 participants, 26 (9.25%) had diabetes whereas 46 (16.4%) had pre-diabetes; 24 reporting doctor-diagnosed diabetes. Participants with diabetes/pre-diabetes were more likely to be obese, smokers and hypertensive. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed age to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. One in four adults ≥18 years among Tibetan Muslims have diabetes or prediabetes. Migration to lower altitude could have contributed to this high prevalence.Keywords
Funding Information
- Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India
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