Increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and impact of ethnicity in north Sudan.

Background: Diabetes mellitus constitutes a global health threat, with increasing burden of disease in low and middle-income countries witnessing ongoing epidemiological transition including Sudan.

Aims: To study the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes and determine the relationship to gender, age, waist circumference, body mass index, residence and ethnicity among the adult population in north Sudan.

Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based study in Northern State and River Nile State using random multi-stage cluster sampling targeting 5376 participants from 14 localities divided into 60 urban and 40 rural clusters.