title: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its risk factors among the rural Fulanis of Northern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information about diabetes mellitus (DM) from the rural populations in Nigeria, particularly among the rural Fulanis is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two rural districts of Sokoto State in Northern Nigeria. Using a modification of the WHO STEP wise approach to surveillance (STEPS) instrument, information on sociodemographic and anthropometric data was obtained. Either a casual or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level was obtained in all subjects while oral glucose tolerance test was performed in a randomly selected group of 50 of the study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and ninety-three subjects participated in the study. The prevalence rates of DM, impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were 0.8, 6.9, and 8%, respectively. The mean (SD) FPG was higher in males (5.1 ± 0.6 mmol/L) than in females (4.9 ± 0.6 mmol/l), but not statistically significantly (P = 0.20). The major risk factors for DM among the rural Fulani were obesity and increasing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence rates of DM and its principal risk factor obesity are low among the rural Nigerian Fulani. However, the prevalence of prediabetes is relatively high, a factor that may predispose to the future development of DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabir
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohwovoriole
authors.forename: Simeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isezuo
authors.forename: Olufemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fasanmade
authors.forename: Sani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwuala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014507:Urbanization; D055815:Young Adult