title: The prevalence of NIDDM and associated risk factors in native Canadians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the true prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), NIDDM, and associated risk factors by age and sex in an isolated native community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-wide prevalence survey using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was undertaken in the remote native reserve of Sandy Lake, Ontario, Canada. Measurements for obesity included waist-to-hip circumference, BMI, and percentage body fat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 728 individuals were enrolled, representing a community participation rate of 72%. The overall crude prevalence of NIDDM was 17.2% (18.1% females and 16.0% males) and increased to 26.1% overall (28.0% females and 24.2% males) when age-standardized. The prevalence of IGT was higher in females compared with males (age-standardized prevalence of 19.8 vs. 7.1%, respectively). Females had a higher prevalence of obesity, IGT, and NIDDM occurring at younger ages. Measures of obesity and fasting insulin levels were significantly associated with NIDDM in the 18-49 age-group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence rates of NIDDM in this study population are the highest reported to date in a Canadian native population and among the highest reported in the world. Females appear to be at much higher risk of developing obesity, IGT, and NIDDM and at a younger age. Due to the high prevalence rates of IGT and NIDDM in this young population, there is urgent need to develop culturally appropriate community-based public health intervention programs before the long-term complications of diabetes have a devastating effect on the residents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. sharris1@julian.uwo.ca
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnie
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wolever
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zinman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution