title: Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in rural communities in Sudan: prevalence and risk factors.
abstract: Undiagnosed diabetes constitutes a challenge for health providers, especially in rural areas. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance among adults in rural communities in River Nile State, north Sudan. In a cross-sectional community-based study, blood glucose, anthropometric, demographic and clinical history data were obtained from 1111 individuals from 35 villages. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 2.6% (29 individuals); glucose intolerance was detected in 1.3% (14 individuals). Classic symptoms (polydipsia, polyuria and weight loss) were present in around half of the participants but were not more prevalent in those with diabetes. Lower educational level, increasing age, hypertension and unexplained weight loss were significant risk factors for diabetes. Other variables (obesity, sex, occupation, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking) were not significant risk factors. There is a low prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and glucose intolerance in the rural population of River Nile State.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nile Valley University, Atbara, Sudan.
authors.forename: S K M
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Noor
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nile Valley University, Atbara, Sudan.
authors.forename: S O E
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Bushara
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nile Valley University, Atbara, Sudan.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nile Valley University, Atbara, Sudan.
authors.forename: W M Y
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Elmadhoun
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. elziber@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult