Normal fasting plasma glucose and risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: the Isfahan Diabetes Prevention Study

AIM: To determine the association of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level within normal range and the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in an Iranian population. METHODS: A total of 806 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with type 2 diabetes who had FPG levels less than 5.6 mmol/l (100 mg/dl) in 2003 to 2005, and who did not have diabetes or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), were followed through 2010 for the occurrence of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. At baseline and through follow-ups, participants underwent a standard 75 g 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: The incidence of type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and IFG was 9.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.8-12.4), 28.7 (23.8-33.6), and 33.0 (27.7-38.2) per 1,000 person-years based on 4,489 person-years of follow-up, respectively. FPG was associated with the incidence of diabetes, IGT, and IFG. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for diabetes, IGT, and IFG were 1.36 (1.01-1.84), 1.45 (1.10-1.91) and 1.31 (1.00-1.71), for the highest quintile of FPG compared with the lowest quintile, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in FPG in the normal range is associated with an increase in the incidence of IGT, IFG, and type 2 diabetes. These results prove FPG in the normal range to be useful in identifying apparently healthy FDRs of patients with type 2 diabetes at risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes.     

2型糖尿病家系一级亲属脂肪细胞因子变化特点及影响因素的研究进展

脂肪细胞因子是脂肪组织产生的一系列具有生物活性的细胞因子,参与体内能量代谢、免疫、内分泌等生理活动,在代谢平衡的调控过程中起到重要作用。2型糖尿病家系一级亲属作为糖尿病的高危人群,常伴有脂肪细胞因子分泌异常,本文就其体内脂肪细胞因子变化特点及影响因素的研究进展作一综述。     

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose regulation in the Canary Islands (Spain): prevalence and associated factors in the adult population of Telde, Gran Canaria.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and the determinants of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in an adult Canarian population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. One thousand and thirty subjects aged 30-82 years were randomly selected. Participants completed a survey questionnaire and underwent blood pressure measurements, anthropometry, blood samples, and a 75-g standardized oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 15.8% (95% confidence interval: 11.8-19.8) in men and 10.6% (7.1-14.1) in women. Total prevalence was 13.2% (11.1-15.2). Among individuals with diabetes, 55.4% of men and 38.2% of women were not previously diagnosed. The age-standardized prevalences of impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycaemia were 11.4% (9.5-13.4) and 2.8% (1.8-3.8), respectively. In multivariate analyses, age, waist circumference, serum triglycerides, and familial history of diabetes were independently associated with diabetes in both sexes, while a value of C-reactive protein (CRP) >/= 1 mg/l showed an association with diabetes, but only in men. Age and triglycerides were related to impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in both sexes, waist circumference was related to IGR exclusively in men, and familial diabetes exclusively in women. Statistically significant interactions between gender and both CRP and triglycerides were found with respect to diabetes, and between gender and both waist circumference and triglycerides for IGR. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the rest of Spain, the prevalence of diabetes is moderately increased in this area of the Canary Islands. Along with other well-established risk factors, CRP was independently associated with diabetes, but only in the male population.     

Psychosocial factors are independent risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes in Japanese workers with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance1

Aims We prospectively studied Japanese workers with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and analysed possible risk factors for diabetes, including psychosocial factors such as stress. Methods The participants were 128 male Japanese company employees (mean age, 49.3 ± 5.9 years) with IFG and/or IGT diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Participants were prospectively studied for 5 years with annual OGTTs. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox's proportional hazard model were used to analyse the incidence of diabetes and the factors affecting glucose tolerance, including anthropometric, biochemical and social–psychological factors. Results Of 128 participants, 36 (28.1%) developed diabetes and 39 (30.5%) returned to normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during a mean follow‐up of 3.2 years. Independent risk factors for diabetes were night duty [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.48, P = 0.002], higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels within 6.1–6.9 mmol/l (HR = 1.05, P = 0.031), stress (HR = 3.81, P = 0.037) and administrative position (HR = 12.70, P = 0.045), while independent factors associated with recovery were lower FPG levels (HR = 0.94, P = 0.017), being a white‐collar worker (HR = 0.34, P = 0.033), non‐smoking (HR = 0.31, P = 0.040) and lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (HR = 0.97, P = 0.042). Conclusions In addition to FPG levels at baseline, psychosocial factors (night duty, stress and administrative position) are risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, while being a white‐collar worker, a non‐smoker and lower serum ALT levels are factors associated with return to NGT in Japanese workers with IFG and/or IGT.     

First-degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk of non-alcoholic Fatty liver disease

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) than healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 222 FDR of consecutive patients with T2DM aged between 35 and 55 years and 202 healthy individuals with no family history of diabetes were investigated for NAFLD. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography using standard criteria. Height, weight, fasting glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol and triglyceride were determined by routine laboratory methods. RESULTS: Compared to subjects with no family history of diabetes, the age and sex adjusted odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.11-3.03) for FDR of patients with T2DM. After further adjusting for BMI, fasting glucose, ALT, asparate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride and cholesterol, the multivariate OR of prevalent NAFLD in FDR of patients with T2DM compared with individuals with no family history of diabetes was 1.56 (95% CI: 0.85-2.86). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the relation between FDR of patients with T2DM and NAFLD is affected by the other covariates, in particular obesity, which points to a more complex relationship between the diseases. It appears that obesity and diabetes may independently predispose to NAFLD.     

Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in Jordan: prevalence and associated risk factors

Shigeki Suga, Naoki Tamasawa, Ichiro Kinpara, Hiroshi Murakami, Nobuhiko Kasai, Tomio Onuma, Yasuyuki Ikeda, Atsuko Takagi, Toshihiro Suda (Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Aomori; and National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan). Identification of homozygous lipoprotein lipase gene mutation in a woman with recurrent aggravation of hyperglyceridaemia induced by pregnancy (Case Report). J Intern Med 1998; 243 : 317–21. We herein report a case of a 40-year-old Japanese woman (patient IT) with a history of recurrent aggravation of hypertriglyceridaemia, pancreatitis and miscarriages in three previous pregnancies. However, strict dietary intervention was applied during a fourth pregnancy. As a result, acute pancreatitis was avoided, and the patient gave birth to a healthy infant. In patient IT, the underlying etiology of the recurrent aggravation of hypertriglyceridaemia during pregnancy was a lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene aberration. She was homozygous for LPL deficiency due to a nonsense mutation (TGG¹⁴⁰¹?TGA/Trp³⁸²? Stop) in exon 8 of the LPL gene, which resulted in the absence of LPL activity and immunoreactive LPL mass. Our findings indicate that, in LPL deficiency, pregnancy seriously exacerbates hypertriglyceridaemia and increases the risk of acute pancreatitis, which endangers both the mother and fetus. Early diagnosis of LPL deficiency and appropriate management thereof are essential for normal childbirth.     

Thiazolidinedione therapy in the prevention/delay of type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance

AIM: The second-generation thiazolidinediones (TZDs), rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, significantly decrease fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels in patients with diabetes. Recent studies suggest that early treatment with TZDs may prevent the progression from insulin resistance (IR) to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This prospective analysis examined the effect of early TZD treatment in the prevention or delay of T2DM in a multiethnic population with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and IR. METHODS: The analysis included 172 patients (aged 29-86 years) with IGT and IR (normal or borderline HbA(1c), C-peptide levels > 2 mg/ml, fasting blood sugar 100-125 mg/dl, and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels 140-200 mg/dl). Patients in the active treatment group (n = 101) had received troglitazone for an average of 10 months before being randomly switched to rosiglitazone (4 mg/day) or pioglitazone (30 mg/day). Patients were switched when troglitazone was withdrawn from the US market because of liver toxicity concerns. Patients with IGT and IR who received no antidiabetic medication served as a control group (n = 71). HbA(1c) and C-peptide levels were measured at baseline (2 years) and study end point (3 years). Kaplan-Meier testing, using time to outcome as the main outcome variable, determined risk reduction in the TZD group relative to the control group. RESULTS: Mean HbA(1c) and C-peptide levels decreased for patients receiving either TZD at the 2-year assessment, and reductions were maintained at study end point. After 2 years, none of the patients receiving TZD therapy progressed to T2DM; three patients progressed to T2DM by study end point. In the control group, 11 patients became diabetic after 2 years and 19 patients became diabetic by the end of the study. The incidence (risk reduction) of diabetes after 3 years was 88.9% lower in the TZD group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The TZDs, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, were effective in reducing HbA(1c) and C-peptide levels in patients with IGT/IR. Progression of IR/IGT to T2DM appears to be significantly delayed or prevented with early TZD treatment.     

Detection of impaired glucose tolerance and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in UK South Asians: an effective screening strategy

Aim:  We tested a stepwise, community-based screening strategy for glucose intolerance in South Asians using a health questionnaire in conjunction with body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric measurements (waist and hip circumference, sagittal diameter and percentage body fat) were then conducted in a hospital setting followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to identify subjects at the highest risk and analyse the factors predicting that risk.
Methods:  A health questionnaire was administered to 435 subjects in a community setting and BMI was measured. Subjects were graded by a risk score based on the health questionnaire as high, medium and low. Subjects with high and medium risk scores and a representative sample of those with low scores had anthropometric measurements in hospital followed by an OGTT. In total, 205 (47%) of the subjects had an OGTT performed.
Results:  In total, 48.7% of the subjects tested with an OGTT had evidence of glucose dysregulation: 20% had diabetes and 28.7% had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Logistic regression model explained 49.1% of the total variability. The significant predictors of diabetes and IGT were Blood Glucose Monitoring Strips (BMI), random blood glucose (BM), sibling with diabetes and presence of diagnosed hypertension or ischaemic disease. Most of these predictors along with other heredity diabetes factors create a composite score, with high predictability, as the receiver operating curve analysis shows.
Conclusion:  We describe a simple, stepwise strategy in a community setting, based on a health questionnaire and anthropometric measurements, to explain about 50% of cases with IGT and diabetes and diagnose about 50% of cases from the population screened. We have also identified factors that predict the risk.     

The incidence of microalbuminuria and its associated risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients in isfahan, iran

AIM: The study was carried out to determine the five-year incidence of microalbuminuria and to assess its associated risk factors for type 2 diabetic patients in Isfahan, Iran. METHODS: 505 type 2 diabetic patients (22% male, 78% female) with normal urinary albumin levels, being treated at Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, were consecutively selected. After the initial selection in 1999, the patients were followed for five years. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of age and duration of diabetes was 57.4 (9.5) and 10.2 (4.7) years, respectively. BMI, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum lipids and serum creatinine were measured and re-examined every three months. 24-h urinary albumin excretion was measured and reviewed annually. Microalbuminuria was diagnosed when at least two measurements indicated the excretion of more than 30 mg albumin in 24-h urinary samples. RESULTS: During 5-year follow up, 176 patients developed microalbuminuria, giving an incidence rate of 82.3/1000 person/year (95% CI: 78.3-86.2). Males had a higher incidence than females (104.4 vs. 66.2/1000 person/year, p < 0.001). Duration of diabetes, abnormal levels of HbA1c, hypertension and high serum creatinine were significantly associated with microalbuminuria. There was no difference in mean of age, BMI, and lipid levels between patients with and without microalbuminuria. Multivariate analysis was used to show that duration of diabetes, HbA1c, hypertension and retinopathy were the independent variables related to microalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of microalbuminuria in the study population was higher than in other populations. The higher incidence and the considerable gender difference in this population may be attributed to inferior glycemic control and lack in screening for risk factors, but this needs to be explored in further studies.     

上海郊区糖调节受损和糖尿病患病率及其危险因素分析

随着近几十年来我国经济的迅猛发展,心血管疾病已取代传染性疾病成为我国居民死亡的主要原因。糖尿病是心血管疾病的危险因素并且与生活方式和饮食习惯密切相关。随着经济的发展,许多农村地区发展为大中城市的郊区,其居民生活方式和饮食结构也不可避免地发生了很大     

生活方式干预2型糖尿病患者一级亲属的临床研究

目的对糖耐量正常的2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者一级亲属实施生活方式干预，观察第一时相胰岛素分泌，探讨早期保护B细胞、预防糖尿病的意义。方法通过75g葡萄糖耐量试验，选取46例糖耐量正常T2DM患者一级亲属进入研究，其配偶为对照（30例），实施生活方式干预。测定受试者血脂、血糖、第一时相胰岛素分泌等。结果（1）T2DM一级亲属存在第一时相胰岛素分泌受损，胰岛素抵抗及脂代谢异常。（2）与对照组相比，一级亲属组空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素升高，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（3）生活方式干预后，一级亲属组血脂、空腹胰岛素下降，明显改善急性胰岛素反应。结论T2DM一级亲属具有糖尿病高发风险，早期实施生活方式干预具有可行性。     

High prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in India: National Urban Diabetes Survey

Aims/hypothesis: There has been no reported national survey of diabetes in India in the last three decades, although several regional studies show a rising prevalence of diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in six major cities, covering all the regions of the country. Methods: Using a stratified random sampling method, 11 216 subjects (5288 men; 5928 women) aged 20 years or above, representative of all socio-economic strata, were tested by OGTT. Demographic, anthropometric, educational and social details were recorded using a standard proforma. Physical activity was categorised using a scoring system. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Glucose tolerance was classified using the 2-h values (WHO criteria). Prevalence estimations were made taking into account the stratified sampling procedure. Group comparisons were done by t-test or analysis of variance or Z-test as relevant. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to study the association of variables with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Results: Age standardised prevalences of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance were 12.1 % and 14.0 % respectively, with no gender difference. Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance showed increasing trend with age. Subjects under 40 years of age had a higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance than diabetes (12.8 % vs 4.6 %, p < 0.0001). Diabetes showed a positive and independent association with age, BMI, WHR, family history of diabetes, monthly income and sedentary physical activity. Age, BMI and family history of diabetes showed associations with impaired glucose tolerance. Conclusions/interpretation: This national study shows that the prevalence of diabetes is high in urban India. There is a large pool of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance at a high risk of conversion to diabetes. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 1094–1101] Received: 14 February 2001 and in revised form: 30 March 2001     

The prevalence of retinopathy in impaired glucose tolerance and recent‐onset diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program

Aims Retinopathy is considered the complication most closely associated with and characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycaemia below levels diagnostic of diabetes, so called pre‐diabetes, is associated with a low prevalence of ‘diabetic’ retinopathy. However, few longitudinal studies of non‐diabetic populations have performed repeated measures of glycaemia and screened for retinopathy to determine its occurrence in the non‐diabetic population and the onset of retinopathy in new‐onset diabetic patients. We determined the prevalence of retinopathy characteristically seen in diabetes in persons with impaired glucose tolerance and in patients with new‐onset diabetes of known duration in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) cohort. Methods The DPP recruited persons with elevated fasting glucose (5.3–6.9 mmol/l) and impaired glucose tolerance, and no history of diagnosed diabetes, other than gestational diabetes not persisting after pregnancy. Seven‐field, stereoscopic fundus photography was completed a mean of 3.1 years after the development of diabetes in 594 of 878 participants who had developed diabetes during the DPP, and in a random sample of 302 participants who remained non‐diabetic. Results Retinopathy consistent with diabetic retinopathy was detected in 12.6 and 7.9% of the diabetic and non‐diabetic participants, respectively (P = 0.03, comparing prevalence in the two groups). Systolic blood pressure and HbA_1c were higher at baseline in the diabetic participants who had retinopathy compared with the diabetic participants without retinopathy. Conclusions Retinopathy characteristic of diabetes is present in persons with elevated fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance and no known history of diabetes. The prevalence of retinopathy is significantly higher in persons who develop diabetes, even within 3 years of diagnosis.     

High incidence of type 2 diabetes and increasing conversion rates from impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance to diabetes in Mauritius

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of different stages of glucose intolerance in a population from Mauritius followed over 11 years. RESEARCH DESIGN, METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Population-based surveys were undertaken in the multi-ethnic nation of Mauritius in 1987, 1992 and 1998 with 5083, 6616 and 6291 participants, respectively. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were included. Three cohorts aged between 25 and 79 years with classifiable glucose tolerance data were identified; 3680 between 1987 and 1992, 4178 between 1992 and 1998, and 2631 between 1987 and 1998. Glucose tolerance was classified according to WHO 1999 criteria. RESULTS: The incidence rate of type 2 diabetes was higher between 1992 and 1998 than between 1987 and 1992. In men, the incidence was similar between cohorts (24.5 and 25.4 per 1000 person-years) whereas the incidence increased in women (23.3 and 16.4 per 1000 person-years). The incidence of diabetes peaked in the 45-54 year age group and then plateaued or fell. The incidences of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) decreased in both men and women. Of normoglycaemic subjects at baseline, more women than men developed IGT and more men than women developed IFG. Of those labelled as IFG in 1987, 38% developed diabetes after 11 years. The corresponding figure for IGT was 46%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report changes in incidence rates of glucose intolerance over a 11-year period. In particular, differences between men and women were observed. The increased incidence of IGT in women compared with men, and increased incidence of IFG in men compared with women was consistent with, and explains the sex biases seen in the prevalences of these states.     

Long-term risk of IDDM in first-degree relatives of patients with IDDM

Summary Due to a short observation period previous studies may have underestimated prevalence and recurrence risk of IDDM in relatives of IDDM patients. To obtain a more exact life-time risk estimate we identified 310 probands, representative of Danish IDDM patients, characterized by current age more than 50 years, age at onset 40 years or less and diabetes duration of more than 30 years. Family data were obtained from 291 probands. Mean observation times (age) (± SD) for siblings (n = 553) and offspring (n=359) were 59.4 ± 16.1 years and 33.8 ± 8.8 years, respectively. Of the probands 73 (25.1%) had at least one first-degree relative with IDDM. Seventeen percent had at least one affected sibling. An increase from 10.4% to 22.4% of having first-degree relatives with IDDM among probands with age at onset below 20 years was observed during the period from proband at age 21 years up to 1 September 1992. Among affected siblings 48% of the second cases were affected more than 10 years after the first affected sibling. Using the life-table method cumulative recurrence risks from time of birth were calculated for siblings up to age 30 years of 6.4% and up to age 60 years of 9.6%. For offspring the risk up to age 34 years was 6.3%. In addition, we present a life-table method evaluating the cumulative recurrence risk from time of onset in the proband, as this is the most relevant when giving genetic counselling. In conclusion, the long-term risks of IDDM in siblings and offspring are high compared to that shown in previous reports.Abbreviations IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - SE standard error     

2型糖尿病患者糖耐量正常一级亲属胰岛素第一时相分泌的变化

目的探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者糖耐量正常的一级亲属胰岛素（Ins）第一时相分泌的变化及其与T2DM发病机制的关系。方法选无DM家族史糖耐量正常的健康人35名为对照组[NGT（-）]组,已确诊的T2DM患者糖耐量正常的一级亲属33名为研究[NGT（＋）]组。放射免疫分析法测定两组FIns及静脉葡萄糖耐量试验（VGTT）后2min、4min、6min、8min血清Ins含量。结果（1）NGT（＋）组的腰围、BMI、TG与NGT（-）组相比差异有统计学意义。（2）NGT（＋）组2min处Ins低于NGT（-）组,两组间差异有显著统计学意义。（3）NGT（＋）组2min处Ins值与腰围呈负相关。结论T2DM患者一级亲属在糖耐量正常时已出现Ins第一时相分泌下降,且与腰围呈负相关,可作为向IGT和DM发展的早期预测指标。     

2型糖尿病患者一级亲属胰岛素抵抗与体重关系的研究

目的探讨2型糖尿病一级亲属胰岛素抵抗与体重的关系。方法2007年10月至2008年10月就诊于中国医科大学附属盛京医院的沈阳地区2型糖尿病患者,经知情同意后,选择其一级亲属(父母、同胞、子女)25例,根据75gOGTT试验分为正常糖耐量(FNGT)组、糖耐量减低(FIGT)组,另外选取性别、年龄与之相匹配,无糖尿病家族史的正常糖耐量12名为对照(NC)组,以正糖高胰岛素钳夹试验求得葡萄糖输注速率(GIR),比较3组间胰岛素敏感性的差异。结果FIGT组、FNGT组、NC组BMI依次为27.28±0.68、25.99±0.98和24.12±0.71,FIGT组明显高于NC组(P0.01),与FNGT组相比差异无统计学意义(P=0.11);FIGT组和FNGT组葡萄糖输注率分别为5.20±0.38和6.38±0.79,均明显低于NC组(9.83±0.86)(P0.01);葡萄糖输注率与BMI的相关系数为0.477(P0.01);多元逐步回归分析显示,BMI、糖尿病家族史均为影响胰岛素抵抗的显著因素(校正r2分别为0.39和0.21,P0.01)。结论2型糖尿病一级亲属不论血糖是否正常均存在胰岛素抵抗,此抵抗和家族史显著相关,独立于肥胖之外。     

Prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal ankle-brachial index in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine abnormalities in the ankle–brachial index (ABI) and related risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Between September 2003 and June 2010, the ABI was determined in 3924 outpatients attending the Diabetes Center of the People’s Liberation Army 306th Hospital. In addition, demographic and laboratory data were collected. The risk factors for an abnormal ABI were determined using univariate and stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results: The ABI was normal (0.91–1.3) in 93.1% of patients, low (<0.9) in 5.2%, and high (>1.3) in 1.7%. The prevalence of abnormal lower ABI was greater in elderly (≥ 65 years) patients (12.2%) than in younger (< 65 years) patients (3.6%). Using normal ABI as the reference, low ABI in younger patients was found to be independently associated with HbA1c, the urinary albumin:creatinine ratio, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and cerebrovascular disease. A low ABI in elderly patients was found to be independently associated with age, smoking, HbA1c, uric acid, total cholesterol, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy and cerebrovascular disease. A high ABI in younger patients was associated with being male. Conclusions: The prevalence of an abnormal ABI was high in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially elderly patients. Early identification and intensive treatment are needed to improve the quality of life and overall prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes.