Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance in adult Ethiopian immigrants

339 adult immigrants from Ethiopia were surveyed 1 year after arrival. They were screened for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance by measurement of serum HgbA1C levels. The levels were higher than normal in 35 subjects (10.3%), and were significantly higher in immigrants consuming the Israeli diet, which is richer in proteins and carbohydrates, than in those on the Ethiopian diet. Oral glucose load was abnormal in 7 subjects. 3 had overt diabetes mellitus with absent serum insulin response to glucose load. 4 had glucose intolerance with normal insulin secretion. However, clinical appearance of diabetes was incidental and diabetes ketoacidosis was not detected. The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance in this ethnic group (2.1%) is similar to that in the general population of Israel. Longitudinal studies would indicate the exact prevalence and type of diabetes mellitus among the Ethiopian immigrants.