Diabetes Self-Care among South Asians in Western Countries: A Systematic Review.
Saranya Puzhakkal, Barbara Conway, Syed Tabish Razi Zaidi et al.
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In 30 seconds
This mixed-methods systematic review synthesised qualitative and quantitative evidence on diabetes self-care among South Asians living in Western countries. Following PRISMA guidance, the authors included 20 studies published between January 2000 and December 2024. Qualitative evidence emphasised culturally relevant education and support; quantitative studies reported improved diabetes outcomes with educational and physical activity interventions. The integrated framework identified three core areas for self-care: adequate diabetes education, patient involvement in care planning, and daily physical activity. The abstract does not report a pooled effect estimate.
Key findings
- Twenty studies met the review’s inclusion criteria.
- Educational and physical activity interventions were associated with improvements in diabetes outcomes in quantitative studies.
- The integrated framework identified education, patient involvement in care planning, and daily physical activity as three core self-care pillars.
- Common barriers included self-monitoring, dietary adherence, and implementing lifestyle changes.
Why it matters
The review brings together evidence on self-care needs and barriers in South Asians living in Western countries, highlighting the role of culturally relevant support alongside patient participation and physical activity. These findings can inform the design of self-care programmes, while the mixed evidence base and absence of a pooled effect estimate mean the magnitude of benefit is not established here.
What to keep in mind
The review combines heterogeneous qualitative and quantitative studies, and the abstract provides no pooled effect estimate for intervention outcomes.