Comparison of the Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Asian Indians Living in the United States and India: Does Location Matter?

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has affected many people worldwide. One population that is greatly affected by T2DM is the Asian Indian population. The relative effects of genetics and environment on the development of diabetes in adults are not completely understood. OBJECTIVES: We conducted an analysis to determine if location, through the environment and different diets, affects T2DM inheritance in Asian Indians. We hypothesised that the prevalence of T2DM depended on location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed previously collected data on T2DM in the individual states of India and the U.S. and used this information to compare the prevalence of T2DM in Asian Indians living in these two countries. RESULTS: A total of 1,117,465,226 individuals were surveyed in India. Of these, 108,295,674 individuals had T2DM. Similarly, of the 1,704,846 individuals in the US, 298,107 had T2DM. The prevalence of T2DM was 17.49% in Asian Indians living in the US compared to 9.69% for Indians living in India (P < 0.00001). In individuals with similar genetic backgrounds, environmental factors significantly influence the development of T2DM.