RESUMO
Oral glucose tolerance tests with 75 g glucose loads were carried out in 243 Saudi Arabs and the results considered in relation to the WHO criteria. Six per cent of those classified as diabetics on the basis of post-glucose values had a fasting value of <90 mg/100 ml which, according to WHO criteria, excludes diabetes. Fifty-nine per cent of the normals and 42% of the diabetics had a fasting glucose of >/= 90-< 120 mg/100 ml. There is, therefore, a large overlap in the fasting values of diabetics and normals and a two-hour post glucose value is recommended for diabetic screening. In those classified as normal 18% had at least one value between >/= 180 and < 200 mg/100 ml and 11% >/= 200 mg/100 ml. Two per cent of the total studied would have fallen into a different category if WHO cut-off points in SI units had been used instead of traditional units. It is concluded that the WHO recommendations are not entirely suitable for interpretation of glucose values in Saudi Arabs. Long-term studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of curves which are normal on WHO criteria but which have some values during the test higher than are normally found in European and North American populations