To the Editor: Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia, with 50% of cases remaining undiagnosed.1 Consequently, the Australian National Diabetes Strategy has early detection of diabetes as a key priority.2 We undertook a study to determine the prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism (impaired fasting glycaemia [IFG] and diabetes) in patients presenting in the fasted state for endoscopy or colonoscopy at a metropolitan teaching hospital. We used the definitions of abnormal glucose metabolism outlined by the World Health Organization in 19993 and published in a position statement in the Journal in April 1999.4
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- 1. Dunstan DW, Zimmet PZ, Welborn TA, et al. The rising prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. Diabetes Care 2002; 25: 829-834.
- 2. Colagiuri S, Colagiuri R, Ward J. National diabetes strategy and implementation plan. Canberra: Diabetes Australia, 1998.
- 3. World Health Organization. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications; Part 1: Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Geneva: Department of Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance, WHO, 1999.
- 4. Colman PG, Thomas DW, Zimmet PZ, et al. New classification and criteria for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Med J Aust 1999; 170: 375-378. <eMJA full text>
- 5. Colagiuri S, Zimmet PZ, Hepburn A, Colagiuri R. Evidence-based guidelines for type 2 diabetes: case detection and diagnosis. Canberra: Diabetes Australia and National Health and Medical Research Council, 2002.
None identified.