Hi Reddit, My name is Dr. Sanjay Basu, a physician and epidemiologist at Stanford University working on the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease worldwide. I recently published two articles in PLOS Medicine that focus on diabetes prevention. In “The Health System and Population Health Implications of Large-Scale Diabetes Screening in India: A Microsimulation Model of Alternative Approaches” we found that large-scale community-based screenings in India are likely to produce a large number of false-positive results, particularly if using the currently available screening instruments. In “Averting Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in India through Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxation: An Economic-Epidemiologic Modeling Study” we developed an economic-epidemiologic model that found introducing sustained taxation on sugar sweetened beverages could mitigate the increasing rate of obesity and type 2 diabetes in India. We found that given current consumption patterns, the relative effect of SSB taxes would be expected among both urban and rural populations in India. This is important in light of the increasing global prevalence of type 2 diabetes; the WHO estimates that in 2014 the global prevalence of diabetes (of all types) was already 9% among adults aged 18+ years. In recognition that a focus on prevention is critical to addressing climbing diabetes rates globally, PLOS Medicine has called for papers on diabetes prevention for a special issue. Publishing research on diabetes prevention is a top priority for PLOS Medicine, but to be considered for this special issue, all submissions are due on March 4 2016. To learn more about submitting your research, read the “Speaking of Medicine” post. I will be answering your questions at 1pm ET (10am PT, 6 pm UTC) – Ask Me Anything!