A study on lifestyle risk factors, vascular reactivity and insulin resistance in in young women with polycystic ovaries of South Asian and European origin

South Asians show a geater risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a younger age than Caucasians. As, they are the largest non European ethnic group in Scotland, this could have large health and economic implications. South Asian women, especially middle aged, appear to have the highest background risk of diabetes, but have been largely overlooked. In addition, menstrual and hormonal abnormalities (known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS) which are linked with later on diabetes seem to be more frequent in South Asian women of reproductive age compared with Caucasians. Therefore, we wish to study the association between lifestyle risk factors and vascular reactivity and the risk of developing diabetes in South Asian and European women of reproductive age with menstrual abnormalities, so as preventative measures can be potentially targeted at an earlier age before the risk of diabetes rises