Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of morbi- dity and mortality and is increasing in prevalence in many populations around the world including Thai land. The most common form of diabetes is non-insu lin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or Type II diabetes, comprising over 90% of cases. The American Diabetes Association estimated the prevalence of dia betes among adults to be 7.4% in 1995; this is expected to rise to ~9% in 2025 7 and in 2000 the average preva lence of diabetes in Thailand was 4.8% which was