PREVALENCE OF DIABETES-MELLITUS AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN A GROUP OF URBAN ADULTS IN NIGERIA

This survey was undertaken to determine the prevalence of diabetes mel litus and impaired glucose tolerance in a group of urban adults in Iba dan, Nigeria. A total of 998 subjects randomly selected from five main ministries and departments in the Government Secretariat participated in the survey. Each subject was asked to fast overnight and ingested 75 g of glucose dissolved in 250 mL of water after answering a questio nnaire. Relevant anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, w aist and hip diameters, and blood pressure also were taken. After 2 ho urs, of blood was drown and plasma glucose concentration measured. Dia gnosis of diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance was based on 1985 Wor ld Health Organization (WHO) cut-off values. Blood glucose results wer e available in 875 subjects. Seven subjects were found to be diabetic for a prevalence of 0.8%, with the majority (5 subjects) being newly d iagnosed. Nineteen were found to have impaired glucose tolerance For a prevalence of 2.2%. There were no sex differences between the two gro ups. All of the newly diagnosed diabetics were asymptomatic. Multivari ate analysis revealed that subjects with a Family history of diabetes, higher body mass index, and higher systolic blood pressure had higher blood glucose levels. The prevalence of diabetes in this survey is lo wer than rates reported in recent surveys in Nigeria that used less st ringent criteria and different methodologies. The rate is comparable t o that of a Tanzanian study that used WHO criteria. However, the rate of impaired glucose tolerance in this study first to be reported in Ni geria, is lower than that obtained in the Bantu population.