Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), their association with cardiovascular risk factors, and evaluate the management of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol in individuals with diabetes by geographical regions of Thailand.

Research design and methods Using a stratified, multistage sampling design, data from a nationally representative sample of 37,138 individuals aged ≥ 15 years was collected using questionnaires, physical examination and blood samples.

Results Prevalence of diabetes and IFG weighted to the national 2004 population was 6.7% (6.0% in men and 7.4% in women) and 12.5% (14.7% in men and 10.4% in women), respectively. Diabetes was more common in urban compared to rural men but otherwise prevalence was relatively uniform across geographical regions. More than half of those with diabetes had not been previously diagnosed, although the majority of those diagnosed were treated with oral anti-glycemics or insulin. Prevalence of associated risk factors was high amongst individuals with diabetes as well as those with IFG. Two thirds of those with diabetes and concomitant high blood pressure (≥ 130/80mmHg) were not aware that they had high blood pressure, and more than 70% of those with diabetes and concomitant high cholesterol (total cholesterol ≥ 6.2 mmol/L) were not aware that they had high cholesterol.

Conclusion Diabetes and IFG were uniformly high in all regions. Improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and associated risk factors is required if the health burden of diabetes in Thailand is to be averted.