Objective: In order to study the morbidity of diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and main effective factors of peasants with different income in poor area and to provide scientific data for strategy development.
Methods: The regions of investigation were divided into five parts: east, south, west, north and centre with two and three villages randomly selected for study from each region. Glucose - oxidase method was used to measure blood sugar and urine sugar. The classification and diagnosis standard were referred from the Beijing conference in 1980.
Results: The morbidity rates of non - insulin - dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and IGT were 1.21% and 2.35% in peasants who earned 800 and 2,500 yuan every year respectively. The standardized morbidity of NIDDM and IGT were 0.96% and 1.98%. We found that morbidity of NIDDM and IGT was very low among those younger than 20 years old but increased with age until reaching the top at the age of 70 to 80 years. DM patients were prominently seen at 30 to 40 year olds and IGT at 20 to 30 year olds. There was no difference of morbidity between male and female seen (chi(2) = 0.19 and 0.12; P > 0.05 and 0.05). The morbidity rates of DM and IGT in poverty type peasants who earned less than 1,200 yuan every year were 2.23% and 3.55% respectively, higher than those with adequate food and clothing type peasants who earned 2,000 to 2,500 yuan every year (morbidity rates were 0.39% and 1.18%; chi(2) = 18.11 and 18.10, P < 0.05 and 0.005) and those with common type of peasants who earned 1 200 to 1,900 yuan every year (morbidity rates were 0.80% and 1.92%; chi(2) = 25.85 and 18.20, P < 0.005 and 0.005).
Conclusion: These results showed that sex did not obviously relate to morbidity of DM and IGT while age was one of the risk factors. The differences of income and unhealthy food intake played an role in the difference of morbidity to DM and IGT. It is important to increase the income of peasants and to change the unhealthy life style.