These findings suggest that undiagnosed NIDDM is not a benign condition. Clinically significant morbidity is present at diagnosis and for years before diagnosis. During this preclinical period, treatment is not being offered for diabetes or its specific complications, despite the fact that reduction in hyperglycemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors is believed to benefit patients. Imprecise dating of diabetes onset also obscures investigations of the etiology of NIDDM and studies of the nature and importance of risk factors for diabetes complications.

OBJECTIVE -To determine the population-based prevalence of diabetes and other categories of glucose intolerance (impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] and impaired fasting glucose [IFG]) in Australia and to compare the prevalence with previous Australian data. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-A national sample involving 11,247 participants aged Ն25 years living in 42 randomly selected areas from the six states and the Northern Territory were examined in a cross-sectional survey using the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test to assess fasting and 2-h plasma glucose concentrations. The World Health Organization diagnostic criteria were used to determine the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance.RESULTS -The prevalence of diabetes in Australia was 8.0% in men and 6.8% in women, and an additional 17.4% of men and 15.4% of women had IGT or IFG. Even in the youngest age group (25-34 years), 5.7% of subjects had abnormal glucose tolerance. The overall diabetes prevalence in Australia was 7.4%, and an additional 16.4% had IGT or IFG. Diabetes prevalence has more than doubled since 1981, and this is only partially explained by changes in age profile and obesity.CONCLUSIONS -Australia has a rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes and other categories of abnormal glucose tolerance. The prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in Australia is one of the highest yet reported from a developed nation with a predominantly Europid background. Diabetes Care 25:829 -834, 2002

Adult height has directionally opposing relationships with risk of death from several different major causes of chronic diseases.

Results from this qualitative study were used to develop the Dogs and Physical Activity (DAPA) tool which is now being used to measure the walking behaviour of dog owners.

SciEnTific invESTigATiOnSBackground: Cross-sectional analyses of North American populationbased cohorts and one nonsignificant longitudinal analysis have suggested that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus. However, this observation has yet to be replicated outside the USA or be observed lonigitudinally. Methods: Residents of the Western Australian town of Busselton had their OSA quantified by the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) overnight in their own homes (MESAM IV device). Diabetes was defined as either a fasting blood glucose ≥ 7 mmol/L or physician diagnosed diabetes. Results: Of 399 participants at baseline, 295 had complete data and did not have diabetes at baseline; 9 incident cases were observed within 4 years. At baseline moderate-severe OSA was associated with a univariate, but not multivariate, increased risk of diabetes (odds ratio = 4.37, 95% CL = 1.12, 17.12). Longitudinally, moderate-severe OSA was a significant univariate and independent risk factor for incident diabetes (fully adjusted OR = 13.45, 95% CL = 1.59, 114.11). Conclusions: Moderate-severe sleep apnea was a significant risk factor for incident diabetes in this Australian population-based cohort. However, the confidence intervals were wide and meta-analyses or studies with greater power will be required to verify the relationship between sleep apnea and the incidence of diabetes in community-based populations.