title: Diabetes in Immigrant Tibetan Muslims in Kashmir, North India.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Pulmonary Medicine, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, 190011, J&K, India.
authors.forename: Mirza Shohiab Ur
authors.initials: MSU
authors.lastname: Riyaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Pulmonary Medicine, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, 190011, J&K, India.
authors.forename: Majid Khalil
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rather
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Pulmonary Medicine, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, 190011, J&K, India. parvaizk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Parvaiz A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1700-9285
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Koul
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007514:Islam; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000208:ethnology*; D018609:Tibet / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
keywords: Diabetes; High altitude; Pre-diabetes; Tibetans