[Study on diabetes prevalence in urban China]

To describe the status of diabetic mellitus (DM) prevalence and fast blood glucose level among urban population in China.

All 16 511 subjects, from households participating in dietary survey, aged over 20 years, were randomly sampled from 44 urban sites in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The diagnosis of DM was based mainly on fast plasma glucose concentration, combining with oral glucose tolerance test and the survey of previous diabetic mellitus diagnosis in local hospitals.

The DM prevalence in big cities was 6.13%, 6.08% for male and 6.30% for female. The DM prevalence was 1.07%, 2.72%, 6.50%, 11.62%, 17.36%, 18.32% and 10.06% for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years age groups and the fast plasma glucose levels were (4.74 +/- 0.90) mmol/L, (4.93 +/- 1.03) mmol/L, (5.12 +/- 1.47) mmol/L, (5.42 +/- 1.76) mmol/L, (5.63 +/- 1.88) mmol/L, (5.70 +/- 2. 07) mmol/L, and (5.24 +/- 1.10) mmol/L respectively. The DM prevalence in medium small cities was 3.78%, 3.98% for male and 3.63% for female. The DM prevalence was 0.41%, 1.38%, 3.41%, 9. 4%, 12.56%, 11.23% and 5.56% for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years age groups, and the fast plasma glucose level was (4. 68 +/- 0.58) mmol/L, (4.82 +/- 0.74) mmol/L, (4.99 +/- 1.04) mmol/L, (5.31 +/- 1.55) mmol/L, (5.49 +/- 1.73) mmol/L, (5.39 +/- 1.62) mmol/L, (5.22 +/- 1.30) mmol/L respectively in small and medium cities.

For DM and fast plasma glucose level, the effects of increasing with the age should be very obvious either in big cities or medium and small cities. The DM prevalence rate in middle aged and elderly groups should be significantly higher than that in young population. The DM prevalence of each group in big cities is higher than that in medium and small cities.