title: South Asian cultural concepts in diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes is a significant health problem in the South Asian community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To extract messages from primary research reports to improve nurses' cultural understanding so they are better able to promote self-management among people of South Asian origin with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review was conducted of studies describing people from this group, cultural concepts of their diabetes management and the impact of culturally sensitive care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies involved adults of South Asian origin, with three focused solely on the Bangladeshi community. They all explored cultural perceptions of diabetes and self-management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural beliefs play an important role in attitudes towards diabetes among people of South Asian origin. Understanding their beliefs improves the care provided to this community.
authors.affiliation: Nightingale Ward, Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curzio
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001459:Bangladesh; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010154:Pakistan; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000379:methods*