Prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Asian Indian families with a single diabetic parent.

Offspring of one parent diabetic (OPDR-A) and offspring of one parent diabetic with a first-degree family history on the non-diabetic parental side (OPDR-B) were studied to assess the influence of familial aggregation on the prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). All parents and offspring were tested for diabetes by oral glucose tolerance test. All parents had NIDDM. The prevalence of diabetes was 36% and 54% in the OPDR-A and OPDR-B families, respectively. The prevalence rate in OPDR-B was higher compared to OPDR-A families (P less than 0.01). The prevalence of diabetes in OPDR families was not different whether the father or the mother had diabetes. There was a male predominance among the diabetic offspring. The age at diagnosis was lower in the offspring compared to that in their parents in both groups. The expected risk of diabetes was greater in OPDR-B families compared to OPDR-A families. Thus it is seen that there is high prevalence of NIDDM in our population even in families with only one diabetic parent.