Cultural barriers to diabetes care in South Asians: arranged marriage – arranged complications?

Social and cultural differences that are present in South Asian diabetic patients may affect their diabetes care. We present a case concerning a young South Asian girl with type 2 diabetes mellitus who, despite persistent attempts at education and encouragement by health care professionals, was unwilling to accept treatment of her diabetes. It was felt by both herself and her family that acceptance of the diagnosis of diabetes would adversely affect her marriage prospects. As a result she developed severe microvascular complications before she finally agreed to treatment. Understanding potential cultural barriers to diabetes care may be vital in managing South Asian diabetic patients and it is important to establish education programmes specifically aimed at removing the perceived stigma of diabetes in this population. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.