PREVALENCE OF TYPE-2 (NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT) DIABETES-MELLITUS AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN THE JAPANESE GENERAL-POPULATION - THE HISAYAMA STUDY

We determined the population-based prevalence of diabetes mellitus in members of the Japanese community, Hisayama aged 40-79 years old by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. The basic population used to calcula te diabetic prevalence was 1,077 men (72.8 % of the whole population i n the same age range) and 1,413 women (80.8 %) including ten diabetic patients on insulin therapy. In addition, we compared the prevalence o f history of diabetes which was acquired by interview or questionnaire , between participants and non-participants in the 75-g oral glucose t olerance test, but they were not statistically different. The age-adju sted prevalence of diabetes to world population was 12.7 % for men and 8.4 % for women, and that of impaired glucose tolerance was 19.6 % fo r men and 18.4 % for women. These figures were much higher than those previously reported from several Japanese communities. The results obt ained from the present study could reveal true prevalence of diabetes among the Japanese population. In addition, the reasons for the increa sing prevalence of diabetes among the recent Japanese population are a lso discussed.