ABSTRACT
During the period January to December 1979, 75 g glucose tolerance tests were performed on 311 patients in the Chemical Pathology Department of the University Hospital. There were 14 (4.5 percent) non-pregrant adult patients, not previously diagnosed as diabetic, whose 2-h post-ingestion blood glucose values, using venous whole blood, fell within the range 140-200 mg percent (8-11 mmol/l). On these results they were diagnosed as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and no therapy given except for dietary advice. Two years later, during the month of January 1982, they were contacted by postal telegrams to return to the hospital for reassessment. A 75-g glucose load was given to each respondent and a 2-h post-ingestion blood glucose level determined. Eight (57 percent) had normal values of mean blood glucose 115 mg percent (6.4 mmol/l): 4 were female, and 4 male; age range 20-76 yr, mean age 40 yr; body mass index range 19.7-35.1, mean value 29.2 (>26 regarded as obesity). Two (14.3 percent) females remained in the IGT group: mean blood glucose value 173 mg percent (9.6 mmol/l); mean age 32 yr; and mean body mass index 29.7. Four (28.6 percent) were frank diabetics, mean blood glucose 347 mg percent (19.3 mmol/l): 3 males 1 female; age range 20-66 yr, mean age 48 yr; body mass index range 24.1-28.7, mean value 25.7