Diabetic groups as defined by ADA and NDDG criteria have a similar aerobic capacity, blood pressure and body composition. American Diabetes Association and National Diabetes Data Group.
OBJECTIVE
In 1997 the American Diabetes Association (ADA) published new categories for diabetes based on fasting plasma glucose that classified diabetes as a plasma glucose of 7.0 mmol/l, or more, rather than one of 7.8 mmol/l or more, as published previously by the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) in 1979. We compared the cardiovascular disease risk factors of subjects classified as having Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus under the NDDG and ADA criteria.


METHODS
We examined a database of approximately 3,700 men (40.4 +/- 11.5 years old) and distributed them into four categories: normal fasting plasma glucose (NFG) of less than 6.1 mmol/l, impaired (IFG) 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/l, ADA diabetic 7.0 to 7.8 mmol/l and NDDG diabetic of 7.8 mmol/l or more.


RESULTS
Fasting glucose was 5.2 +/- 0.5, 6.4 +/- 0.2, 7.3 +/- 0.2 and 11.2 +/- 2.9 mmol/l for the subjects of the NFG, IFG, ADA and NDDG groups, respectively. Estimated treadmill VO2max was 41.4 +/- 8.0, 36.0 +/- 7.8, 32.2 +/- 7.6, 30.6 +/- 7.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) in the NFG, IFG, ADA, and NDDG groups, respectively (NFG and IFG > ADA and NDDG: p < 0.05). The ADA and NDDG groups were also similar for resting and exercise blood pressure and body composition. Triglycerides and total: HDL cholesterol ratios were higher and LDL cholesterol concentration was lower, in the NDDG group than in all other groups (p < 0.05). Total and LDL cholesterol in the ADA and NDDG groups were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
The similarities in the aerobic capacities, blood pressure and body composition of the ADA and NDDG groups indicate that the decision to lower the cut-off from 7.8 mmol/l to 7.0 mmol/l blood glucose for the clinical classification of diabetes was appropriate. The ADA and NDDG groups, however, might not have identical risks for cardiovascular disease because of differences between total:HDL cholesterol ratios, circulating HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.
Hickner
R C
RC
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
Brunson
M A
MA
McCammon
M
M
Mahar
M T
MT
Garry
J P
JP
Houmard
J A
JA
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005215:Fasting; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014797:Vital Capacity
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids