Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Navajo adolescents differ

Diabetes mellitus afflicts over one-fifth of the Navajo population aged ove r 20 years, but the prevalence of diabetes in Navajo adolescents is unclear . We conducted voluntary testing for diabetes mellitus at two high schools on the Navajo reservation to clarify the prevalence as well as to assess th e utility of a high-school based screening program. Body mass index measure ments (BMI), oral glucose tolerance tests, and hemoglobin A1C measurements were obtained in consenting high school students. Of the 276 students that participated, 234 were Navajo, Only one Navajo student (0.4%) had diabetes mellitus, although eight (3%) had impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fa sting glucose. Participant BMI did not differ significantly from nonpartici pant BMI. No correlation existed between BMI or impaired glucose handling, and significant overlap existed between the hemoglobin A1C values of studen ts with impaired glucose handling and students without impaired glucose han dling. Increased participation in screening programs may reveal higher dise ase prevalence, but high school-based screening is not justified by this st udy, despite the high rates of diabetes mellitus in the Navajo population.