Prevalence of diabetes in various habitats of West Bengal, India.

ABSTRACT

The epidemiological profile data were collected for diabetes mellitus from the people living in three habitats (rural, industrial and urban) having considerable difference in their lifestyle and socio-economic status. Every 5th (occasionally 4th or 6th) member from each habitat was sampled; no restriction regarding age was kept during screening; OGTT (oral glucose tolerence test) was performed 2 hours after 75 g glucose, in those whose FBS (fasting blood sugar) was >90 mg/dl. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was ascertained, if the FBS was >120 mg/dl and/ or postglucose value was >200mg/dl. The per cent prevalence (among all aged people) of diabetes mellitus in rural, industrial and urban habitats were found to be 1.66 +/- 0.58 (male 1.99 +/- 0.88, female 1.3 +/- 0.75); 3.00 +/- 0.74 (male 3.17 +/- 1.04, female 2.80 +/- 1.04) and 4.8 +/- 0.98 (male 5.31 +/- 1.43, female 4.27 +/- 1.32) respectively.