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Muslim Lifestyle and Residing Environmental Factors on Prediabetes
Prevalence Among Muslims in the Three Southern Border Provinces of Thailand:
An Integrative Literature Review

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M. Makeng, D. Tamdee, S. Aungwattana, and W. Tuanrat 2
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1 Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, and Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Nursing
Department, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

Background: Prediabetes, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels that are not yet high
enough for a diabetes diagnosis, is a recognized public health concern. It considerably raises the risk
of progressing to type 2 diabetes and related complications. The prevalence of prediabetes is rising,
particularly in settings where religious and cultural traditions shape lifestyle choices. In Thailand’s
three southern border provinces, where most of the population is Muslim, prediabetes prevalence
may be influenced by their environment and lifestyle.

Objective: This paper explores how Muslim lifestyles and environments affect prediabetes in the Three
Southern Border Provinces of Thailand.

Methods: This paper was conducted based on the integrative review methodology of Whittemore
and Knafl, which comprises five distinct steps: problem identification, literature search, data
evaluation, data analysis, and presentation. Data were retrieved from CINALHL, EBSCO, Google Scholar,
PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ThaiJo.

Results: Most Muslims follow a lifestyle influenced by Islamic norms and environmental factors. These
environmental risk factors include the built environment, social conditions, physio-chemical factors,
and dietary habits. During Ramadan, fasting can improve insulin sensitivity and promote weight loss,
but irregular eating patterns can lead to blood glucose fluctuations. High-calorie, high-fat diets and
traditional foods can adversely affect glucose metabolism. While prayer traditions provide some
physical activity, cultural norms, and safety concerns often limit overall physical activity in the region.

Conclusion: This review explores the relationship between the Muslim lifestyle and environmental factors
influencing prediabetes prevalence. Understanding these factors is crucial for designing effective diabetes
prevention and management strategies. Hence, healthcare providers must consider cultural and
environmental aspects when developing prediabetes prevention and management programs for Muslims.
Future studies should focus on creating and evaluating culturally and environmentally appropriate
interventions to reduce the prevalence of prediabetes in this population.

Keywords: Muslim lifestyle, residing environmental factors, prediabetes prevalence, Muslims, three
southern border provinces of Thailand, integrative literature review
Poster Presentation Abstracts

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Correspondence: Decha Tamdee, Faculty of Nursing, Public Health Nursing Department, Chiang Mai
University, Thailand
E-mail: decha.t@cmu.ac.th

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