B J E C T I V E — To evaluate the prevalence and time trends for diagnosed and undiagnosed
diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance in U.S. adults by age, sex,
and race or ethnic group, based on data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surv e y, 1988–1994 (NHANES III) and prior Health and Nutrition Examination Surv e y s
( H A N E S s ) .
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — NHANES III contained a probability sample
of 18,825 U.S. adults 20 years of age who were interviewed to ascertain a medical hist
o ry of diagnosed diabetes, a subsample of 6,587 adults for whom fasting plasma glucose values
w e re obtained, and a subsample of 2,844 adults between 40 and 74 years of age who re c e i v e d
an oral glucose tolerance test. The Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Surv e y,
1976–1980, and Hispanic HANES used similar pro c e d u res to ascertain diabetes. Prevalence was
calculated using the 1997 American Diabetes Association fasting plasma glucose criteria