title: Limitation of fasting plasma glucose for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
abstract: We have analyzed data from 3370 OGTTs performed during epidemiologic studies in three different ethnic groups (Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian) in various Pacific countries to examine the value of a single fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl as a diagnostic test for diabetes (defined as 2-h plasma glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl). A fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl is a highly specific test for diabetes, specificity in the various populations ranging from 98.1% to 99.7%. On the other hand, the sensitivity of fasting plasma glucose was not high and varied greatly between the populations (46.2%-79.0%). The predictive value of fasting plasma glucose for the diagnosis of diabetes was lowest in populations with a low diabetes prevalence and improved in higher prevalence groups. These data indicate that a fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl is not a good screening test, apart from populations with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and the 2-h postload plasma glucose is preferable.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D008542:Melanesia; D008849:Micronesia; D011114:Polynesia; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose