This is a community-based survey carried out by the Yang-Ming Crusade to investigate potential risk factors of non-insulin-dependent diabetes in Kin-Hu, Kinmen. A total of 3236 people completed both questionnaire and venipuncture (1536 men and 1700 women). Sex, age, education level, family history, obesity, hypertension, triglyceride, cholesterol levels and usage of diuretics were found significantly correlated with diabetes in univariate analyses. The stepwise logistic regression was used in multivariate analysis. Important correlates were age (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05), body mass index (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.31-2.94), waist/hip ratio (OR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.38-3.13), triglyceride (OR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.19-1.81), cholesterol (OR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23-1.77), HDL-cholesterol (OR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.99) and previous hypertension (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.05-2.61). In addition to body mass index, waist/hip ratio was an independent risk factor. Besides the risk factor of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol was an independent protective factor. Previous history of hypertension was a stronger predictor on diabetes than current hypertension.