Prevalence of diabetes in rural Victoria.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of diabetes in adults in small and medium sized towns in a part of rural Victoria


METHODS
Participants were usual residents, aged >or=25 years, from randomly selected households in the crossroads undiagnosed disease study (CUDS: six small rural towns and their regional center in rural Victoria). Response rates to an initial census at the household and attendance at a subsequent biomedical examination involved were 70% and 61% (1454), respectively. All non-diabetic participants had an oral glucose tolerance test.


RESULTS
Prevalence of diabetes, IGT, IFG were 7.3 (5.5-9.5)%, 6.9 (5.1-9.9)% and 3.2 (2.0-4.7)% respectively in the regional center and 8.9 (6.9-11.1)%, 4.9 (3.5-6.7)%, 3.0 (1.9-4.5)% in the Shire Capitals. Overall, 31/118 (26.3%) of those with diabetes were previously undiagnosed. Most (83.9%) of those with undiagnosed diabetes remembered having been screened for diabetes in the previous 2 years. Overall screening rates for diabetes were higher than across Victoria as a whole.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetes has probably doubled over the last 15 years in this area. Undiagnosed diabetes is less common than expected, possibly as a result of a more vigorous approach to screening in general practice and in spite of the lower numbers of GPs in the area.
Simmons
David
D
Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Private Bag 3200, Pembroke Street, 3200 Hamilton, New Zealand. simmonsd@waikatodhb.govt.nz
McKenzie
Anne
A
Eaton
Simon
S
Shaw
Jonathan
J
Zimmet
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose