Risk determinants for non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes go to the very core of the social, cultural, economic and behavioural factors in a society. There is an urgent need to address the socio-economic, behavioural, nutritional and public health issues that have led to the Type 2 diabetes, obesity and CVD epidemic (13). This is yet another example where epidemiological studies of diabetes and its public health significance have triggered, and will continue to stimulate, research into how to prevent diabetes and reduce the burden of its devastating complications.