Outcome measures
Height was measured at baseline. Weight was measured at all visits; with participants wearing light clothing and no shoes. Blood pressure was measured at baseline
and at 4 month intervals. Renal function was measured directly by 99m Tce-diethylenetriamine-pentraacetic acid (99mTceDTPA) at baseline and at the end of the study.
Fasting blood samples for fasting blood glucose (FBG),HbA1c, serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride),and 24 h urine samples for albumin excretion
rate (AER), albumin to creatinine ratio (alb/cr) and urine urea collected at baseline and at 4 month intervals. All samples were analysed at a commercial laboratory in
Adelaide (IMVS).