Challenges faced in diabetes risk prediction among an indigenous South Asian population in India using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score

Objectives: Indigenous populations around the world have a higher health disparity and an increased risk of diabetes. Scientific literature on the prevalence of diabetes in India is not available, and the current work is a pilot study to explore the risk of diabetes in one such indigenous population in India. Study design: This is a cross-sectional survey and screening study. Methods: The study took place in a remote tribal hamlet of Machuru in South India. A door-to-door survey was conducted in the hamlet with a population of 555. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) questionnaire was completed by 160 individuals older than 25 years. Capillary blood glucose levels were measured to compare the glycaemic status with the predicted IDRS. Results: Of 160 adults who completed the questionnaire, 37 were at high risk (23.13%) as per the IDRS, 52 at medium risk (32.5%) and 71 at low risk (44.38%). None of the respondents knew their family history of diabetes owing to the lack of awareness about the condition. Interestingly, the villagers had a sedentary lifestyle owing to their unique family dynamics but a healthy diet. Five participants were diagnosed with diabetes, and 18 were diagnosed with impaired fasting glucose or prediabetes. Conclusions: The IDRS might not be an accurate measure to understand the risk of diabetes in this particular population owing to their unique family dynamics and a lack of awareness about diabetes. The best possible way to assess the diabetes risk might be through blood examination. (C) 2018 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.