Prevalence Of Diabetes Mellitus Among Nigerians In Port Harcourt Correlates With Socio-Economic Status

Random blood glucose analysis by the use of the Trinder's method was carried out to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Nigerians in Port Harcourt. The study population were randomly selected and classified into two socio-economic status as high or low based on affluent diet, occupation, income and access to medical care. The mean blood glucose concentration for the high socio-economic group - staff of the oil industries was 7.42 ±0.25mmol/L and significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that for the low socio-economic class - the non-oil industrial workers, 5.33±0.45mmol/L. The prevalence of diabetes was found to be as high as 23.4% among the high socio-economic group and 16% among the low socio-economic group. Undiagonised diabetes occurred in 18.9% of the population studied and were not aware of their diabetic problem. Diabetic - awareness programmes are to be promoted with acion to identify people with diabetes early enough with the arm of providing appropriate medical treatment. @ JASEM