PREVALENCE OF GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE IN YOUNG MALE ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRANTS

The prevalence of intolerance to glucose was compared between young im migrant Ethiopian Jews shortly after their arrival to Israel, a simila r group of Ethiopians 2-3 years after their arrival to Israel, and you ng Israeli students. A relatively high prevalence of glucose intoleran ce was found in both Ethiopian groups, but we could not demonstrate an y deterioration in glucose tolerance after 2-3 years of Israeli life-s tyle in the Ethiopian groups. In spite of high blood glucose levels in response to 75 g glucose load, when compared to Israeli students the Ethiopians' fasting insulin levels and insulin response to 75 g of glu cose was relatively low, suggesting a higher glucose threshold for ins ulin secretion. However, in the Ethiopians, impaired glucose tolerance was associated with hyperinsulinemia, suggesting that similar to some other populations glucose intolerance is associated with insulin resi stance.