Systematic review investigates how cultural and religious factors shape diabetes self-management in South Asian migrants, suggesting implications for improved care.
Background Despite the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), research exploring the inter-relationship of diabetes self-management, culture and religion in South Asian migrants is minimal. This systematic review aimed to investigate the influence of cultural and religious beliefs and practices on the self-management behaviours of South Asian migrants with T2D. Methods A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Five electronic databases, Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (EBSCO), Scopus, and Web of Science (Clarivate), were searched systematically using predetermined inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently assessed the full texts of the articles retrieved. The methodological quality of articles was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data synthesis was guided by thematic analysis. Results A total of 22 studies (18 qualitative and four mixed-methods) were included in this systematic review. Five themes are presented: (1) Adapting to diabetes: impacts on food habits and dietary choices; (2) Diabetes threatens cultural conventions and identity; (3) Religious beliefs, practices, and prohibitions complicate diabetes management; (4) Social support and awareness to promote self-care; and (5) Individuals seek multiple sources for diabetes management. Conclusion Numerous complexities surround South Asian migrants with T2D and impact their self-management behaviours. Understanding these complexities could facilitate improved patient care and health outcomes for this population.
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Selvaratnam et al. (2026) studied this question.
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