Diabetes mellitus is serious public health challenges around the world. This leads to life-threatening and
expensive complications among developing countries, affecting disproportionately the low-income population.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in countries of all income levels over the past 3
decades. The study focused on estimating and identifying risk factors of type 2 diabetes among low-income
people residing in Dhaka city. A cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study design was carried out. Subjects
were randomly selected from previous diagnostic information and medical records. A well-designed semi-
structured pre-tested and modified questionnaire was used to collect the required data from the study subjects.
The findings of this study indicate that socioeconomic position is closely associated with several behavioral
and metabolic factors related to type 2 diabetes among adults attending the study setting. Multivariable
analysis of the study population indicates that education, body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns, and certain
lifestyle behaviors including alcohol consumption and street-food intake-were independently associated with
income status, whereas age showed no significant effect. Lower-income participants were characterized by
higher carbohydrate consumption and limited health awareness. These findings suggest that type 2 diabetes
risk is influenced by both behavioral and socioeconomic determinants: higher-income groups face increased
risk through lifestyle excesses, while lower-income groups are affected by constrained resources and limited
preventive practices.