Diabetes among Inuit migrants in Denmark.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) among Inuit migrants living in Denmark, and to compare with findings from Greenland. Further, we analyzed determinants for diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included randomly selected Inuit migrants in Denmark aged 34 years and above. Diabetes and IGT were diagnosed using the oral glucose tolerance test. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured, and blood samples were taken from each subject. Socio-demographic characteristics were investigated using a questionnaire. For comparison, data from the Greenland Population Study were used (n = 917).


RESULTS
Of 506 eligible subjects, 256 (51%) participated. Twenty-six subjects had diabetes (10.2%) and twenty-eight had IGT (10.9%). Of those with diabetes, 64% had not been previously diagnosed. The prevalences of diabetes and IGT were not significantly different from those among Inuit in Greenland. Significant predictors of diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) were found to be age, waist circumference and physical inactivity. The association between waist circumference and diabetes was significantly stronger among Inuit migrants in Denmark than among Inuit in Greenland.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetes is high among the Inuit migrants in Denmark. However, unlike that reported in most studies, the prevalence was not significantly higher in the migrant population compared with the population of origin.
Moustgaard
Helene
H
Steno Diabetes Center, Gentofte, Denmark.
Bjerregaard
Peter
P
Borch-Johnsen
Knut
K
Jørgensen
Marit E
ME
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000208:ethnology*; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001786:Blood Glucose