Aims/hypothesis To estimate the 1-year progression rates from both IFG and IGT to diabetes in individuals identified in a pragmatic diabetes screening programme in general practice (the ADDITION Study, Denmark [Anglo-DanishDutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People with ScreenDetected Diabetes in Primary Care]). Methods Persons aged 40-69 years were screened for type 2 diabetes based on a high-risk, stepwise strategy. At baseline, anthropometric measurements, blood samples and questionnaire data were collected. A total of 1,160 persons had IFG or IGT at baseline: 811 (70%) accepted reexamination after 1 year. Glucose tolerance classification was based on the 1999 WHO definition. At follow-up, diabetes was based on one diabetic glucose value of fasting blood glucose or 2-h blood glucose. Results At baseline, 308 persons had IFG and 503 had IGT. The incidence of diabetes was 17.6 and 18.8 per 100 person-years in the two groups, respectively. Conclusions/interpretation IFG and IGT identified in general practice during a stepwise, high-risk screening programme for type 2 diabetes have high 1-year progression rates to diabetes. Consequently, intensive follow-up and intervention strategies are recommended for these highrisk individuals.