Prevalence of diabetes among glycosuric individuals in an urban area of Greece

Abstract

Epidemiologic data on the frequency of diabetes in the urban Greek population were lacking in Greece. Postpranadial urine samples of 21,410 inhabitants of a subturb of Athens were examined for glycosuria by two different enzymatic methods. It was found that 569 persons, i.e. 3.20% of the whole population aged 10 or more, presented postprandial glycosuria (cases of previously known diabetes were excluded); 417 persons out of these were submitted to an OGTT (50 g) and 135 new cases of diabetes were discovered. Glycosuria was associated with diabetes mostly in the age-groups above 40. Obesity was frequent among the newly discovered diabetes. Two thirds had abnormal blood sugar levels already in the fasting condition. The prevalence of non-diabetic glycosuria was 2.70% in males and 1.60% in females. The frequency of a family history positive for diabetes was found to be approximately twice as high in diabetics compared to subjects without glycosuria.