Cardiovascular risk factors in the Lublin Region population with and without type-2 diabetes mellitus.

In the 1998--2001 period we carried out a survey on a representative group of the Lublin Region inhabitants aged over 35. During the survey we found particularly high and so far underestimated prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Ischaemic heart disease and sudden heart death, which is related to it, are the most frequent DM 2 complications.

Diabetes mellitus type-2 is unknown in 75% of cases--results of a population study in rural areas of the Lublin Region (Eastern Poland).

There are scare data concerning the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in rural population in Poland. Our study, performed in 1806 subjects from rural areas, showed that prevalence of diabetes mellitus in rural population is unexpectedly high (17.2%) and is higher than in urban population.

Clinically evident thyroid gland disorders in Lublin Region.

The authors tried to assess the prevalence of thyroid gland pathology in Lublin and the Lublin Region population over 35 years old. The study was performed a few years after introduction of iodine prophylaxis in Poland. In our study we still found high prevalence of goitre--about 12% in town and rural population.

Metabolic syndrome.

The authors present the history of selecting and understanding the essence of the metabolic syndrome (X syndrome, Reaven's syndrome) related to insulin resistance as well as its contemporary working definition allowing diagnosing affected individuals. They describe the cycle of their own study investigating the prevalence of metabolic syndrome elements in patients treated because of their thyrotoxicosis. It has been observed that 4 weeks after thyrostatic treatment is started, many of these patients are affected by the growth of their body mass and total cholesterol level (mostly at the cost of LDL-cholesterol).

Usefulness of glucose levels determination with glucometer in epidemiologic research.

A decentralised health care system based on family doctors implies a certain return to a traditional model, that is to the performance of simple diagnostic tests by the doctor himself. This tendency is getting stronger. In such situation, the approach towards the results obtained with the glucometer should be revised.

A comparative evaluation of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and body mass index as indicators of impaired glucose tolerance and as risk factors for type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: A number of anthropometric indices is used for evaluation of fat tissue accumulation. It is known, that together with increase of obesity increases prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM 2). The aim of this study was to determine, which of following indices: body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist to height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) is the most suitable for the assessment of glucose tolerance disturbances' risk in clinical practice.

Primary and specialist diabetes care three years after introduction of health care system reform in Poland.

The authors discuss epidemics of diabetes in the world and in Poland. In the Lublin region (eastern Poland), for instance, they found type 2 diabetes (DM 2) in 15.6% of the examined aged over 35 (according to the WHO criteria of 1985).