Background. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide. Similar trend is also observed in Poland, especially in elderly population. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess prevalence and to identify anthropometric, metabolic and clinical factors associated with diabetes and prediabetes among women at early elderliness living in central Poland. Methods. 364 women aged 65-74 years, were included into the study. In all patients a history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease was obtained, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were performed, blood samples for laboratory tests (fasting plasma glucose, lipid metabolism and creatinine) were drawn, ankle/brachial index was calculated, abdominal ultrasound with abdominal aorta diameter was performed and carotid intima/media thickness was measured. Data were collected during March and April 2012 in Gniewkowo, the rural-urban municipality in central Poland. Results. 98 women had diabetes (25 de novo) and 94 ones had prediabetes (81 de novo). Waist circumference , BMI, lipid abnormalities as well as anthropometric and metabolic indices: waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were significantly associated with abnormal glucose metabolism. Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis identified WHtR as the best single indicator of patients with diabetes, while again WHtR and VAI were the only independent indicators of any type of impaired glucose metabolism. Conclusions. Abnormal glucose metabolism is highly prevalent among women at early elderliness, especially in those with visceral obesity and abnormal lipid metabolism. Anthropometric and metabolic indices (WHtR and VAI) were better indicators of impaired glucose metabolism compared to separate measurements of single parameters.