Persistent impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and beta-cell dysfunction were independent predictors of type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical profiles and risk of diabetes between subjects with transient (trIGT) and persistent (pIGT) impaired glucose tolerance in Taiwan.


METHODS
In the pIGT group, IGT was diagnosed in two consecutive periods (1992-1994 and 1995-1996); in the trIGT group, the diagnosis was IGT at the baseline but normal glucose tolerance in the second period. The normal group was defined by fasting plasma glucose < 6.1 mmol/L and 2-hour post-load plasma glucose < 7.8 mmol/L in both periods. All three groups were considered eligible subjects for further follow up (1998-1999).


RESULTS
Among 298 nondiabetic subjects at baseline, there were 29 new cases of diabetes diagnosed according to 1999 WHO criteria in 1,614.3 person-years of follow-up (1.79%/year; 95% CI = 1.14-2.44%/year). Among subjects with normal, trIGT, or pIGT, the incidence rates were 0.73%/year (8/1,093.0; 95% CI = 0.22-1.24%/year), 2.57%/year (7/272.2; 95% CI = 0.67-4.47%/year), and 5.62%/year (14/249.1; 95% CI = 2.68-8.56%/year), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The group with trIGT had abnormal glucose tolerance and beta-cell dysfunction, which may represent an earlier stage than the group with pIGT in development of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, pIGT, insulin resistance, and beta-cell dysfunction played independent roles in the deterioration from IGT to diabetes.
Li
Chia-Lin
CL
Department of Health Care Management and Healthcare Databank Laboratory, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tsai
Shih-Tzer
ST
Chou
Pesus
P
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology