[Epidemiology on impaired glucose tolerance].

Using the diagnostic criteria recommended by the WHO Study Group in 1985, the prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was estimated in world-wide epidemiological or population-based surveys. The prevalence of IGT was 10-20% in many communities. Several environmental factors, for example, excess energy intake, fat-rich food, and physical inactivity, have been proposed as being associated with an increased risk of NIDDM and IGT in both developing and developed countries Individuals with IGT at high risk of developing NIDDM and atherosclerotic diseases are a target group for intervention. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has been started in the United States in 1996.