Prevalenceof diabetes mellitus among Bahrainis attending primary health care centres

A sample of 573 subjects from a Bahraini population aged 20 years and above was randomly selected from persons attending four health centres. The capillary blood glucose level was measured with reflectance meter 2 hours after administering 75 g oral glucose in people with negative history for diabetes. An alarmingly high prevalence of total glucose intolerance was found. The observed prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus was 25.5%, with a further 14.7% prevalence for glucose intolerance. Hypertension and positive family history of diabetes among diabetic subjects were 27.6% and 41.7%, respectively, and mean body mass index was 27.9 +/- 5.2. Effective primary prevention strategies are needed, to be intensified among high risk groups. Awareness of the disease needs to be promoted