Sarita Bajaj|Fatema Jawad|Najmul Islam|Hajera Mahtab|Jyoti Bhattarai|Dina Shrestha|Chandrika Wijeyaratne|Dimuthu Muthukuda|Niranjala Weegoda Widanage|Than Than Aye|Moe Wint Aung|Bharti Kalra|Ranjit Mohan Anjana|Aswathy Sreedevi|Komal Verma
South Asian women with diabetes: Psychosocial challenges and management: Consensus statement
Motilal Nehru Medical College
diabetes ninth leading cause death women globally south asians mortality women diabetes stands second highest marked gender discrimination faced women across south asia esp access services support diabetes resulting high rates morbidity mortality women diabetes important risk factor identified diabetes epidemic obesity along genetic susceptibility lack health care social cultural disparity discrimination work disparity marriage restricted medical facilities prevalent diabetes depression common women increasing age low level education low socioeconomic conditions difficulties posed finding partners frequent divorce family history psychiatric illness significant risk factors diabetes depression patients usually poor metabolic control higher complication rates increased healthcare costs lost productivity lower quality life well increased risk death preconception counseling incorporated routine diabetes clinic visit women childbearing potential women diabetes information access contraception proper family planning counseling psychological support help stop practices female foeticide multiple pregnancies psychological support patients families needed break barrier emerging evidence women diabetes prone untoward outcomes compared men central obesity metabolic syndrome polycystic ovary syndrome show ethnic specific differences south asian women optimal sexuality integral part holistic health shortage trained female health care professionals lack privacy overcrowded health care facilities social taboo attached matters lack confidence patients contribute neglect sexual issues women attending diabetes clinics across south asia guidelines counselling female sexual dysfunction written culturally appropriate manner south asia needed diabetes affects women severely unique biological cultural socioeconomic circumstances women limited access health care facilities illiteracy ignorance negative social customs transcending gender hierarchy inequality formidable challenge sensitising men empowering women self care providing peer support maybe answer challenge essential health care providers use appropriate coping mechanism building psychological contact patient including family friends part social support empower patient complete process managing diabetes increasing awareness media seminars posters group discussions education regular monitoring consulting doctor support group women facilities aerobic exercises recommended health care systems consider customdesigned prevention control programs tailored women based local regional attitudes health care cultural beliefs available social support systems policies empower adolescent girls young women take control metabolic management must encouraged provision gender specific diabetes education holistic lifecycle approach recommended