Pharmacological management of South Asians with type 2 diabetes: Consensus recommendations from the South Asian Health Foundation
South Asians constitute approximately 1.6 billion people from the Indian subcontinent, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; and make up the largest diaspora globally. Compared to the White European population, this group is at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes along with cardiovascular, renal and eye complications.
Over the recent years, a number of new therapies for type 2 diabetes have become available for which cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have been published. The recent ADA/EASD consensus guidelines on diabetes, pre- diabetes and cardiovascular diseases’ offer a transitional shift in type 2 diabetes management. The new consensus recommendations are based on recent CVOTs, many of which had a representation of South Asian cohorts. In light of thisnew evidence, there is urgent need for an integrated, evidence- based, cost- effective andindividualised approach specific for South Asians. This review takes into consideration the evidence from these CVOTs and provides best practice recommendations for opti-mal management of South Asian people with type 2 diabetes, alongside the previously published consensus report from South Asian Health Foundation in 2014 [1]