Glucose tolerance and mortality in diabetes mellitus in Maltese-born residents of Victoria

Abstract

In view of the recognized high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Malta compared with Australia, 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on 396 Maltese-born residents of Melbourne. Eighteen (4.5%) were found to have diabetes mellitus and 19 (4.8%) were found to have impaired glucose tolerance by current criteria. Glucose tolerance was correlated with family history of diabetes, with age, with obesity and with parity in women, but not with length of residence in Australia. Analysis of statistical data of death certification showed that Maltese-born residents of Victoria had a higher age-specific mortality from both diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease than did Victorian Ital..