Effects of dietary and lifestyle management on type 2 diabetes development among ethnic minority adults living in the UK: A generational shift

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing among Asian, African, and Caribbean (AAC) populations in the UK, where diet and lifestyle are the main modifiable factors. The effect of generation on the onset of T2D in relation to dietary and lifestyle habits is unclear in these ethnic communities in UK. Thus, the study aims to investigate this issue along with whether generation of AAC, living in the UK differs in terms of the prevalence of T2D. The current study incorporated longitudinal self-reported data for 3459 AAC adults aged 25+ years using wave 7 (data collected in 2016) & 9 (data collected in 2019) from the UK Household Longitudinal Study data. A Chi-square test was used to examine the difference in prevalence of T2D among ethnic generations. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of T2D in terms of dietary and lifestyle habits adjusting for covariates. Significantly higher prevalence of T2D existed in the first-generation (5.0%) than the second-generation (1.9%) (p < 0.001). Findings were consistent after adjusting for gender, residence type, country of residence, sleep quality, high blood pressure, long-standing illness, and age. Consuming two or less vegetables and more than two fruits portions per day with (odds ratio, OR 1.92, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.02, 1.64); (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.08, 12.82) respectively, and walking weekly (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.20, 4.41). However, the confounding effect of age in terms of more than two vegetable portions, two or fewer fruits portions, non-smokers, alcoholic and non-alcoholic respondents was non-significant. Findings suggest that people from first-generation, have higher odds of developing diabetes, despite having the same lifestyle as second-generation (fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise, non-smokers, and alcohol). Further research is required to examine these factors more specifically.