T. Kadowaki et H. Yoshinaga, RISK-FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS (NIDDM) IN JAPAN, Diabetes research and clinical practice, 24, 1994, pp. 190000123-190000127
Follow-up studies of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance in Japan
have shown that a higher level of blood glucose is a major predictor
of the subsequent development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellit
us (NIDDM). In addition, subjects with a lower insulin response to glu
cose show a higher risk for the development of NIDDM. In fact, most of
the subjects who later develop diabetes show a lower insulin response
to glucose at the initial examination. Moreover, obesity is generally
associated with a higher risk of developing NIDDM. We conclude that l
ow insulin secretion forms an important basis and obesity plays a prec
ipitating role among low-insulin responders in the pathogenesis of the
majority of NIDDM patients in Japan.