​This paper aims to provide population-based data from California on: (a) the prevalence and the odds of diabetes among non-obese South Asian (SA) Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW); (b) to assess the prevalence and odds of optimal medical care including regular eye exams, foot exams, and the monitoring of hemoglobin A1C blood glucose levels; and (c) to identify the factors that are associated with diabetes among SA Americans.

• Non-obese SA had more than twice the odds of diabetes in comparison to NHW, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.
• Despite their higher propensity for diabetes, there were no significant ethnic differences in the level of optimal care received by those with diabetes.
• Among non-obese South Asian Americans, the odds of diabetes were higher for older respondents, those without a post-secondary degree, those who were foreign-born, those who had ever smoked, and those with BMI from 25 to 29.99.